Toxoplasmosis in sheep III. Further evaluation of the ability of a live Toxoplasma gondii vaccine to prevent lamb losses and reduce congenital infection following experimental oral challenge

The aim of this study was to compare the ability of a live incomplete strain (Strain 48) and a live complete strain (Strain 89) of Toxoplasma gondii to protect against abortion and congenital infection following an oral challenge of T. gondii oocysts. Sixty-nine two-tooth ewes were immunised pre-tupping with live Strain 48 of T. gondii tachyzoites and seventy ewes were immunised with Strain 89. Eighty-two serologically negative ewes served as controls. At mid-pregnancy half of the ewes were challenged orally with T. gondii oocysts (2×10⁵/ewe).

The ewes vaccinated with Strain 48 were significantly (p<0.05) protected against the effects of experimental challenge and the rate of congenital infection was also significantly (p<0.15) reduced. The ewes vaccinated with Strain 89 were also significantly (p<0.05) protected.

The serological response to challenge as measured by both the Dye test and the Indirect Haemagglutination test varied considerably between the two vaccinated groups.     

Silicon biostimulant enhances the growth characteristics and fortifies the bioactive compounds in common and Tartary buckwheat plant

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Silicon is a potential biostimulant that has been used to enhance the yield and quality of plant products. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of...     

In vivo antitumor effects of 4,7-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,3-benzodioxole isolated from the fruiting body of Antrodia camphorata through activation of the p53-mediated p27/Kip1 signaling pathway

In this study, 4,7-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,3-benzodioxole (SY-1) was isolated from three different sources of dried Antrodia camphorata (AC) fruiting bodies. AC is a medicinal mushroom that grows on the inner heartwood wall of Cinnamomum kanehirai Hay (Lauraceae), which is an endemic species that is used in Chinese medicine for its antitumor properties. We demonstrated that SY-1 [given as a 1-30 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneal (ip) injection three times per week] profoundly decreased the growth of COLO-205 human colon cancer cell tumor xenografts in an athymic nude mouse model. We further demonstrated that significant AC extract-mediated antitumor effects were observed at the highest concentration (5 g/kg body weight/day). No gross toxicity signs were observed (i.e., body weight changes, general appearance, or individual organ effects). Frozen COLO-205 xenograft tumors were pulverized in liquid N(2), and the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins was detected by immunoblotting. We found that the p53-mediated p27/Kip1 protein was significantly induced in the low-dose (1 mg/kg body weight) SY-1-treated tumors, whereas the p21/Cip1 protein levels did not change. The G0/G1 phase cell cycle regulators induced by SY-1 were also associated with a significant decrease in cyclins D1, D3, and A. These results provide further evidence that SY-1 may have significance for cancer chemotherapy.     

Peracetylated (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (AcEGCG) potently suppresses dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis and colon tumorigenesis in mice

Previous studies reported that peracetylated (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (AcEGCG) has antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. Here, we evaluated the chemopreventive effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of dietary administration of AcEGCG and EGCG in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The mice were fed a diet supplemented with either AcEGCG or EGCG prior to DSS induction. Our results indicated that AcEGCG administration was more effective than EGCG in preventing the shortening of colon length and the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and lymphoid nodules (LN) in mouse colon stimulated by DSS. Our study observes that AcEGCG treatment inhibited histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) acetylation but did not affect histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity and acetyl- CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300 levels. In addition, pretreatment with AcEGCG decreased the proinflammatory mediator levels by down-regulating of PI3K/Akt/NFκB phosphorylation and p65 acetylation. We also found that treatment with AcEGCG increased heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) expression via activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/2 signaling and acetylation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), thereby abating DSS-induced colitis. Moreover, dietary feeding with AcEGCG markedly reduced colitis-driven colon cancer in mice. Taken together, these results demonstrated for the first time the in vivo chemopreventive efficacy and molecular mechanisms of dietary AcEGCG against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and potentially colon cancer associated with colitis. These findings provide insight into the biological actions of AcEGCG and might establish a molecular basis for the development of new cancer chemopreventive agents.     

Steam-dried ginseng berry fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum controls the increase of blood glucose and body weight in type 2 obese diabetic db/db mice

This study examined whether steam-dried ginseng berries fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum (FSGB) could improve the indices of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in obese db/db mice. FSGB was shown to have an effect on body weight and blood glucose/serum parameters when administered at a dose of 0.5 g/kg. In the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT), FSGB was clearly shown to improve insulin tolerance and glucose tolerance. Moreover, FSGB was shown to enhance immune activities by increasing the immune cell population, and glucose transpoter 1 (GLUT1) mRNA expression in L6 cells was up-regulated, suggesting that FSGB can increase glucose transport activity in target cells. These results indicate that steam- and dry-processed ginseng berries fermented with L. plantarum can be used to effectively control blood sugar metabolism via improving insulin and glucose tolerance and body weight gain in db/db mice.     

Correction: QTL mapping under salt stress in rice using a Kalarata–Azucena population

Euphytica - The color of flour and its end-use products is an important quality trait of wheat. Understanding the genetic basis of this trait is essential for improving wheat quality. In this...     

Contribution of human alpha-defensin 1, 2, and 3 to the anti-HIV-1 activity of CD8 antiviral factor

It has been known since 1986 that CD8 T lymphocytes from certain HIV-1-infected individuals who are immunologically stable secrete a soluble factor, termed CAF, that suppresses HIV-1 replication. However, the identity of CAF remained elusive despite an extensive search. By means of a protein-chip technology, we identified a cluster of proteins that were secreted when CD8 T cells from long-term nonprogressors with HIV-1 infection were stimulated. These proteins were identified as alpha-defensin 1, 2, and 3 on the basis of specific antibody recognition and amino acid sequencing. CAF activity was eliminated or neutralized by an antibody specific for human alpha-defensins. Synthetic and purified preparations of alpha-defensins also inhibited the replication of HIV-1 isolates in vitro. Taken together, our results indicate that alpha-defensin 1, 2, and 3 collectively account for much of the anti-HIV-1 activity of CAF that is not attributable to beta-chemokines.     

Multi-objective Waste Load Allocation Model for Optimizing Waste Load Abatement and Inequality Among Waste Dischargers

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - This work focuses on the effects of two commercial formulations of dispersants on juvenile turbot after 48&;nbsp;h of contamination and 15&;nbsp;days of...