Synergistic effects of Miconazole and Polymyxin B on microbial pathogens

The therapeutic value of antibiotics depends on the susceptibility of the infecting microorganism and the pharmacological profile of the drugs. To assess the value of an antibiotic combination of polymyxin B and miconazole this study examined the in vitro synergistic potential of the two drugs on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeast. Antifungal and antibacterial activity was tested by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of broth macrodilution and urea broth microdilution, by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Synergism was calculated using the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi). With Staphylococcus intermedius as target we found up to an eightfold reduction of the individual MICs when both drugs were combined. However, the FICi was 0.63 suggesting no real interaction between the two drugs. With Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Malassezia pachydermatis as targets the antimicrobial drug combination reduced the MICs of polymyxin B and miconazole from fourfold to hundredfold resulting in FICi between 0.06 and 0.5 which defines a synergistic action. Thus, if polymyxin B and miconazole are combined their effect is greater than the sum of the effects observed with polymyxin B and miconazole independently, revealing bactericidal and fungicidal synergism. Our results indicate a strong therapeutic value for the combination of these antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast and a weaker value against Gram positive bacteria for clinical situations where these pathogens are involved.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus uberis</Emphasis>-specific T cells are present in mammary gland secretions of cows and can be activated to kill <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. uberis</Emphasis>

The presence, phenotype and function of Streptococcus uberis-specific T cells in the mammary gland secretion (MGS) and blood of cows exposed to S. uberis were assessed. MGS T cells in the udder were purified and incubated with autologous blood monocytes as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Most cows, irrespective of prior S. uberis infection status and lactation status, were shown to have S. uberis-specific T cells both in MGS and in the blood. When cells from a subgroup of cows were studied, it was found that the S. uberis-specific T cells produced high levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), but low levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10). A high percentage of responding T cells were of the CD8 ⁺ memory (CD45RO) subset. T cells from the MGS specific for S. uberis were propagated from animals during the drying off period and expanded in vitro using interleukin-2 (IL-2) and S. uberis antigens. This led to the accumulation of T cells of the CD8 ⁺ subset bearing memory cell markers (CD45A ⁻ , CD45RO ⁺ ), which released high levels of IFN-γ. Four of the five T cell lines derived from the MGS of three animals had substantial direct killing activity towards S. uberis in vitro. It is concluded that there is an emergence of S. uberis-specific bactericidal T cells in the MGS of cows after infection or environmental exposure to S. uberis. Vaccines aimed at activating and expanding this T cell population in the mammary glands of cattle may offer an avenue for the prevention of mastitis caused by S. uberis.     

Decreased blood cell counts were not observed in cattle living in the “difficult‐to‐return zone” of the Fukushima nuclear accident

White blood cells, especially lymphocytes, are susceptible to radiation exposure. In the present study, red blood cell, total white blood cell, and lymphocyte counts were repeatedly measured in cattle living on three farms located in the “difficult‐to‐return zone” of the Fukushima nuclear accident, and compared with two control groups from unaffected areas. Blood cell counts differed significantly between the two control groups, although almost all the values fell within the normal range. The blood cell counts of the cattle in the “difficult‐to‐return zone” varied across sampling times even on the same farms, being sometimes higher or lower than either of the two control groups. However, neither a statistically significant decrease in blood cell counts nor an increase in the rate of cattle with extremely low blood cell counts was observed overall. The estimated cumulative exposure dose for the cattle on the most contaminated farm was within a range of 500–1000 mSv, exceeding the threshold for the lymphopenia. Because of the low dose rate on these farms, potential radiation damages would have been repaired and have not accumulated enough to cause deterministic effects.     

Regulation of fibroblast growth factor 9 on the differentiation of goat intramuscular adipocytes

It has been found that fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGF-FGFR) signaling can regulate the expression of adipocyte differentiation genes. FGF9 is one of the members of FGFs that mainly binds receptors FGFR2 and FGFR3. FGF9 is highly expressed in the adipose tissue of humans and mice, but there are few reports on the role of FGF9 in goat intramuscular adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, this study explored the effect of FGF9 on adipocyte differentiation through cell culture, interference, and overexpression. The expression of receptors FGFR1–FGFR4 in adipocyte differentiation and their effects on differentiation were detected to screen receptor gene of FGF9. Finally, the interaction between FGF9 and the receptor was tested by cotransfection. Our results showed that FGF9 interacts with FGFR2 to inhibit goat intramuscular adipocyte differentiation by regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and preadipocyte factor 1 (Pref1), which is a data support for subsequent pathway research.     

应用PCR技术检测鹅细小病毒

根据鹅细小病毒GPVH1株结构蛋白VP1与VP3编码基因非重叠核苷酸序列设计了一对引物GPR1 /GPR2 ,用这对引物对感染器官内的GPR和接种鹅胚增殖的GPV进行PCR扩增 ,其结果引物GRP1 /GPR2能特异性地扩增GPVVP1 VP3区段核苷酸序列 ,扩增出与设计核苷酸片段大小相符的 0 6kb的序列 ,而对照的鹅副粘病毒cDNA及鸭瘟病毒 (DPR)DNA对照组均出现阴性结果。     

京华重晚情--庆祝中国饲料工业协会成立20周年大会老饲料工作者活动侧记

深秋的北京,红了枫叶,黄了银杏,这是京华最美的季节,雄伟的北京人民大会堂格外庄严。全国饲料战线广大职工期盼已久的庆祝中国饲料工业协会成立20周年暨第五次全国会员代表大会于2005年11月5日在这里隆重举行。在步入会堂的人流中,有一支队伍格外引人注目:他们人数不多,但行进整齐;他们几乎都是年过六旬的老者,但步履矫健,充满自信;他们的头发大多斑白了,但胸前佩戴的红花映红了绽满欢笑的面容。他们就是受中国饲料工业协会特别邀请,来自全国各省、市和在京的部分离、退休的老饲料工作者,是上个世纪我国饲料工业初创阶段的拓荒者。为了弘扬…     

牛乳脂共轭亚油酸的合成及其营养调控

共轭亚油酸(CLA)是存在于动物脂肪和乳脂中的天然活性成分。本文综述了牛乳脂CLA的来源、合成机制及其营养调控。     

关于温度影响蚕种产附的体会

蚕种产附是指平附种的外观性状,主要包括蚕种卵面分布的整齐度,卵色一致性等。产附好的蚕种,蚕卵均匀平整地分布于整张蚕种纸,卵色一致,生种、不受精卵少,即生产上讲的产附平整。反之,蚕卵分布疏密相间,卵面有堆叠或空缺,生种、不受精卵多,即蚕种产附差。蚕种     

中国东北松嫩平原丹顶鹤繁殖种群调查(英文)

自2004年至2008年,在白鹤GEF项目的支持下,全国鸟类环志中心于每年5月在东北松嫩平原的4个国家级自然保护区,即黑龙江的扎龙国家级自然保护区、内蒙古的科尔沁国家级自然保护区、吉林的向海和莫莫格国家级自然保护区,开展了繁殖水鸟的地面调查。调查的目的在于了解各个保护区繁殖水鸟的分布和种群动态。丹顶鹤(Grus japonensis)是本调查活动的重要目标物种。通过5年的调查,了解到松嫩平原的扎龙保护区是目前丹顶鹤最为重要的繁殖地,逾90%的繁殖丹顶鹤种群分布在扎龙保护区,但种群数量变动较大,变动幅度介于112–275只之间。良好的芦苇(Phragmites australis)生境是丹顶鹤的繁殖种群保持稳定和增长的首要条件。通过给湿地供水可以缓解丹顶鹤繁殖栖息地的快速退化,但科学合理的供水机制是保证丹顶鹤繁殖成功的前提。