Protective immune responses induced by in ovo immunization with recombinant adenoviruses expressing spike (S1) glycoprotein of infectious bronchitis virus fused/co-administered with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes tremendous economic losses associated with production inefficiencies and mortality in poultry industry worldwide. In the present report, the recombinant adenoviruses expressing chicken granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and S1 gene of nephropathogenic IBV were constructed and characterized. Then, the immunological efficacy and protection against homologous IBV challenge were assessed in specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens. The results showed that the chickens vaccinated in ovo with rAd-S1, rAd-GM-S1 (GM-CSF fused with S1 using glycine linkers) and rAd-GM-CSF plus rAd-S1 (co-administered) developed specific anti-IBV HI antibodies. Moreover, the fusion of the GM-CSF markedly increased spleen cell proliferation and IFN-γ production while mild increased in IL-4 production, which demonstrated the enhancement of cell-mediated immune responses. Following challenge with IBV, the chickens in the group vaccinated with rAd-S1 fused or co-administered with GM-CSF had fewer nephropathic lesions and showed 100% protection as compared to that of rAd-S1 alone which showed 70% protection. It indicated that the single dose in ovo vaccination of the GM-CSF fused or co-administered with S1 of IBV could enhance significantly the humoral, cellular immune responses and provide complete protection against nephropathogenic IBV challenge. This finding may provide basic information for effective in ovo vaccines design against IBV.     

Ascorbic Acid Enhances Growth and Yield of Sweet Peppers (Capsicum annum) by Mitigating Salinity Stress

Salinity is a crucial problem which has affected crop productivity globally. Ascorbic acid is considered helpful against abiotic stresses due to its powerful antioxidant potential. In the pot experiment, salinity stress (0, 35, 70, and 105?mM) was applied to sweet peppers in split doses after 20 days of transplantation. To mitigate the adverse effects of salinity, ascorbic acid (0, 0.40, 0.80, and 1.20?mM) was applied as foliar spray after a 6-day interval during vegetative growth. Sweet pepper plants sprayed with distilled water (control) recorded maximum plant height (cm), leaf area (cm²), number of branches, stem diameter (mm), number of fruit plant^?1, fruit diameter (cm), yield plant^?1 (g), and chlorophyll content (mg 100?g^?1), while the maximum polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1) were recorded in plants treated with 70?mM NaCl application. Salinity stress beyond 70?mM significantly reduced all the studied parameters. An ascorbic acid concentration of 1.20?mM significantly mitigated the negative effects of salt stress and recorded maximum plant height (cm), number of leaves plant^?1, leaf area (cm²), number of branches plant^?1, stem diameter (mm), number of fruit plant^?1, fruit diameter (cm), yield plant^?1 (g), chlorophyll content (mg 100?g^?1), PPO activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1), and APX activity (unit mg protein^?1 min^?1). Hence, a 1.20?mM concentration of foliar ascorbic acid could be used in saline conditions up to 70?mM of sodium chloride (NaCl) for better growth, productivity, and enzymatic activity of sweet peppers.

     

Morpho-physiological Responses of Tomato Genotypes Under Saline Conditions

Gesunde Pflanzen - Salinity is a complex abiotic stress that affects physiology and biochemistry of plants and significantly reduces both crop yield and quality. Considering the global...     

Investigation and modeling of air permeability of Cotton/Polyester blended double layer interlock knitted fabrics

The aim of this study was to analyze and model the effect of knitting parameters on the air permeability of Cotton/Polyester double layer interlock knitted fabrics. Fabric samples of areal densities ranging from 315–488 g/m² were knitted using yarns of three different cotton/polyester blends, each of two different linear densities by systematically varying knitting loop lengths for achieving different cover factors. It was found that by changing the polyester content in the inner and outer fabric layer from 52 to 65 % in the double layer knitted fabric did not have statistically significant effect on the fabric air permeability. Air permeability sharply increased with increase in knitting loop length owing to decrease in fabric areal density. Decrease in yarn linear density (tex) resulted in increase in air permeability due to decrease in areal density as well as the fabric thickness. It was concluded that response surface regression modeling could adequately model the effect of knitting parameters on the double layer knitted fabric air permeability. The model was validated by unseen data set and it was found that the actual and predicted values were in good agreement with each other with less than 10 % absolute error. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to find out the relative contribution of each input parameter on the air permeability of the double layer interlock knitted fabrics.     

1株肾型鸡传染性支气管炎病毒的鉴定

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)具有不同致病特性,将IBV XDC-2株接种9日龄SPF鸡胚培养,可引起鸡胚死亡和出现侏儒胚,病毒EID50达5×10-5.33/mL。将IBV XDC-2株接种18日龄SPF鸡,饲养观察14 d,病鸡临床症状表现为:精神沉郁,羽毛凌乱,双翅下垂,轻微腹泻,多数拉白色水样稀粪。病死鸡出现肾肿大、呈花斑状、大量尿酸盐沉积。鸡发病率为100%,死亡率为25%。死亡鸡肺脏、肾组织制作组织切片,发现病理变化明显,主要为:肾小管扩张,上皮细胞呈玻璃样变性,部分管腔内可见坏死脱落之上皮细胞,于肾间质可见大量单核细胞浸润,肾间质有充血、出血现象;肺内动脉、毛细血管充血,淋巴细胞浸润。死亡鸡肺脏、肾组织接种鸡胚分离病毒,RT-PCR检测结果为阳性,表明该分离株为鸡传染性支气管炎病毒,具有很强的嗜肾性。     

Effect of Azospirillum and Azotobacter Species on the Performance of Cherry Tomato under Different Salinity Levels

Abiotic stress has a negative impact on plant physiology, influencing the overall growth and development of plant crops. Saline stress is one of the most serious environmental issues limiting crop plant production. Biofertilizers are reparative elements used in soil to increase tolerance to salinity and drought stress. We investigated the effect of salinity stress on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of cherry tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum cerasiforme) with biofertilizer application 0, 15 and 30 days after transplanting in this study. After different days of transplantation, different levels of salinity (0, 50, 100, and 150?mM) were used with biofertilizer (Azospirillum sp. and Azotobacter sp.) application (0, 15 and 30 days). The salinity (150?mM NaCl) significantly affected the studied variables, which were recorded with minimum levels of leaf area (52.42?cm²), root length (6.54?cm), fresh root weight (13.64?g), yield (6.52 tons/ha), leaf chlorophyll content (36.11?mg/m²) and maximum levels of total soluble solids (TSS, 8.87 °Brix). Control samples had higher leaf area (58.35?cm²), root length (15.23?cm), fresh root weight (17.86?g), yield (9.39 tons/ha), leaf chlorophyll content (44.09?mg/m²), and lower TSS (7.93 °Brix). Plants that received biofertilizer (15 days after transplanting) had higher plant height (73.41?cm), stem diameter (0.74?cm), leaf area (61.16?cm²), root length (15.35?cm), fresh root weight (18.38?g), root dry matter (60.41%), yield (10.43?t/ha), leaf chlorophyll content (42.55?mg/m²), fruit dry matter content (10.12?g), pH 4.52, and TSS (9.30 °Brix). The minimum plant height (51.33?cm), stem diameter (0.55?cm), leaf area (49.60?cm²), root length (7.04?cm), fresh root weight (12.76?g), root dry matter (42.16?g), yield (5.15 tons/ha), leaf chlorophyll content (35.18?mg/m²), fruit dry matter content (6.59?g), pH 4.27 and TSS (7.55 °Brix) were recorded in plants with no application of biofertilizer. The present study revealed that most growth and quality variables were negatively affected by salinity except for TSS, which showed positive effect with application of 150?mM of NaCl. Biofertilizer application at 15 days significantly influences the quantitative and qualitative attributes of cherry tomato under different levels of salinity.

     

Gibberellic Acid and Boron Enhance Antioxidant Activity,Phenolic Content,and Yield Quality in Pyrus Communis L.

Gesunde Pflanzen - Foliar application of micronutrients and plant growth regulators (PGRs) is one of the strategies of plant-feeding direct through leaves to allow rapid uptake irrespective of soil...     

Efficacy of dietetics in low resource communities: dietary intake and BMI of type 2 diabetics living in Karachi before and after receiving dietician's guidance

This study was planned to assess the dietary intake of diabetic subjects and kind of dietary modification they have made after individualised dietary guidance. Information on clinical and dietary profile of 200 subjects was recorded at first visit of BIDE. Dietary guidance was given by dietician. Second visit was done after 3 months. Subjects having adequate intake of fruit and vegetable, milk and meat was 68, 38 and 63% for males and 52, 40 and 35% for females, respectively. Only 20.4% males and 5.9% females had usual adequate consumption of the four food groups. Overall adequacy of diet improved for 11.1% of males and 27% of females. Weight reduction was observed in 54.8% of females and 32.2% of males. Rate of BMI reduction was significantly higher in the group who had reduced their caloric intake. This first of its kind study from Pakistan, has documented the efficacy of dietary guidance and highlighted the need for further attention to assure balanced intake of foods form various food groups.