Protective effects of oral microencapsulated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine prepared by co-spray drying method

The efficacy of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae oral vaccine was investigated in microsphere dosage form. A co-spray drying process was used to apply an encapsulating material, Eudragit L30 D-55, to microspheres containing Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens. The microspheres were generally effective (>93%) with protein release at pH 7.4, but almost none were released at pH 1.2, for 3 hr in an in vitro dissolution test. An SPF-swine model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the microspheres as an oral vaccine, and the related immune responses. The serum's systemic IgG against M. hyopneumoniae was evoked by ELISA analysis, after a 2nd immunization of all pigs. The vaccinated groups' mean lesion score was significantly lower after the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae challenge than that of the nonvaccinated/challenged groups (P<0.05). This study strongly suggests that the oral microspheres vaccine prepared by a co-spray drying method can provide effective protection against M. hyopneumoniae infection in pigs.     

Oral immunization using formalin-inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae antigens entrapped in microspheres with aqueous dispersion polymers prepared using a co-spray drying process

Oral-vaccine microspheres based on formalin-inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 (AP-1) antigens and enteric-coated polymers were prepared using a co-spray drying process. We evaluated using this for a peroral vaccine. We measured specific-antibody titers and protection from challenge in mouse and pig models. In mice (24 per group), a subcutaneous aluminum-adjuvant vaccine or oral vaccination with three doses of AQ6-AP microspheres provided similar protection against intranasal challenge with 5 x 10(8) colony-formation units (cfu) of AP-1 bacterial culture broth. Two weeks after four oral vaccinations with 600 mg of AQ6-AP microsphere acetate solution (containing formalin-inactivated AP-1 antigens of 1.0 x 10(10) cfu bacterial broth), pigs (9 per group) were challenged intranasally with 1 ml of AP-1 bacterial culture broth (5 x 10(9) cfu). The clinical signs, percentage of pig survival ratio, lung lesion areas, and microscopic examinations indicated that the oral AQ6-AP vaccine provided more protection than vaccinating pigs intramuscularly with AP-1 aluminum vaccine.     

In vivo and in vitro comparisons of spray-drying and solvent- evaporation preparation of microencapsulated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae for use as an orally administered vaccine for pigs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of an orally administered vaccine of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae that was prepared by spray drying or solvent evaporation. ANIMALS: Thirty 6-week-old, crossbred, specific-pathogen-free (SPF) pigs. PROCEDURE: Pigs were randomly allocated into 5 groups and housed in an SPF facility. Pigs in 2 groups (groups AQ and CAP) were fed M hyopneumoniae enteric-coated vaccine on days 0, 10, and 20. A third group (group IM) received an IM injection of M hyopneumoniae vaccine with aluminium hydroxide as an adjuvant on days 0, 10, and 20. The last 2 groups (non-vaccinated-challenged [NV-C] and nonchallenged [NC]) were fed a sham treatment. All 24 pigs in groups AQ, CAFP IM, and NV-C were challenge exposed with 5 ml of a 10% pneumonic lung suspension administered on day 40 via intubation of the trachea. All pigs were slaughtered and the lungs removed and examined for lesions on day 68. RESULTS: In vitro studies indicated that these 2 microencapsulation techniques formed an effective shell and protected mycoplasmal antigen from gastric acid. Results of inoculation and challenge tests indicated that microencapsulated M hyopneumoniae were sufficiently potent to induce an immune response and provide good protection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Orally administered microencapsulated M hyopneumoniae vaccines induced an immune response and reduced the severity of lung lesions in challenge-exposed pigs. Results suggest that this novel method can be applied to other antigens, because the spray-drying process yielded an orally administered M hyopneumoniae vaccine that induced a good immune response.     

Effect of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes on the expression of MHC molecules in canine transmissible venereal tumor cells

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) can be allo-transplanted across major histocompatibility complex barriers. The expression of MHC molecules is usually low in the progression (P) stage and then greatly increases during tumor regression (R). We investigated the effects of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) on the expression of MHC molecules of CTVT cells. Isolated, viable CTVT cells were inoculated at each of 12 sites (1 x 10(8) CTVT cells per site) on the back of six, mixed-breed dogs. Tumor masses were collected every 2-3 weeks and prepared for histopathologic, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and immunoblotting studies. The level of MHC expression on tumor cells from different stages of growth was measured. Initially, expression of MHC I and II molecules in P phase CTVT was low. Twelve weeks post-inoculation (PI), expression increased dramatically and it continued to increase during R phase. Tumor growth slowed after 12 weeks PI and tumors entered R phase around 17 weeks PI. We hypothesize that CTVT evades host immunosurveillance and grows progressively for 12 weeks, when it becomes vulnerable and subject to the host's anti-tumor immune responses. We further demonstrated that R phase, but not P phase, TIL were closely associated with the over-expression of MHC I and II molecules by CTVT cells. The number and proportion of TIL were higher in R phase tumors. Supernatants, from R phase co-cultures (CTVT+TIL) and TIL only, promoted MHC I and II expression on P phase CTVT cells. After culturing alone for 1 month, expression of MHC classes I and II molecules in R phase CTVT cells decreased to the level of P phase CTVT cells. However, the above-mentioned supernatants restored their expression of MHC I and II molecules. In contrast, supernatants from P phase TIL or CTVT cells increased expression slightly or had no effect. Therefore, TIL, not CTVT cells, produce the effective substance (s) to promote the expression of MHC molecules by the tumor cells. Heat treated supernatant was unable to promote the expression of MHC I and II molecules by CTVT cells. In conclusion, TIL isolated from R phase CTVT secreted a heat-sensitive, soluble substance(s) that triggered over-expression of MHC I and II after 12 weeks PI. This caused the tumor to enter R phase and helped stop CTVT growth. Our findings will facilitate the understanding and further investigation of the mechanisms that initiate host immune surveillance against tumors.     

Individual and combined antioxidant effects of seven phenolic agents in human erythrocyte membrane ghosts and phosphatidylcholine liposome systems: importance of the partition coefficient

Antioxidant activities of seven phenolic agents against Fe(2+)-induced lipid oxidation were compared with alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and vitamin C in human erythrocyte membrane ghosts and liposome systems. The antioxidant activity of five test flavonoids followed the order catechin > epicatechin > rutin > quercetin > myricetin in both systems (p < 0.05), which was negatively correlated with their partition coefficients. The antioxidant interaction of these phenolic agents with alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, or vitamin C in inhibiting Fe(2+)-induced lipid oxidation was examined. Synergistic effects were present in the combinations of alpha-tocopherol plus caffeic acid, catechin, or epicatechin as well as in all combinations of vitamin C plus phenolic antioxidants. On the basis of the stronger individual and combined effects present in caffeic acid, catechin, and epicatechin, the application of these three phenolic agents with or without alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and vitamin C may provide stronger protective benefits against lipid oxidation, which may be helpful for oxidation-related diseases prevention.     

颈椎病的蜂针疗法

颈椎病,又名颈椎退行性关节炎、颈椎增生性骨关节炎或颈椎综合症,多见于40岁以上的中老年人。颈椎病的发病主要是因为颈部长期慢性劳损扭伤,加重了颈椎间盘的退化变形,致使颈椎骨质增生,刺激压迫血管神经或脊髓,出现一系列病症。     

中华蜜蜂对荔枝园常见化学农药的触角电位反应

利用触角电生理技术测定了中华蜜蜂对荔枝园常用10种化学农药的触角电位反应（EAG）。结果表明，中华蜜蜂对不同化学农药品种的EAG反应值各不相同，其中高效顺反氯氰菊酯引发的EAG反应值最大，而生绿Bt粉剂引发的EAG反应值最小，两者间的差异达到极显著水平。这些农药品种引发中华蜜蜂EAG反应值的大小顺序为：高效顺反氯氰菊酯〉乐斯本乳油〉乐果乳油〉杀虫双水剂〉农地乐〉敌杀死乳油〉阿维菌素乳油〉灭百可乳油〉敌百虫乳油〉生绿Bt粉剂。这些研究结果可为我们从保护授粉蜜蜂的角度出发，在荔枝园中有选择性地施用对蜜蜂不敏感的农药品种提供有益参考。     

架面不同部位对无核剂处理木纳格葡萄无核化效果的影响

用无核剂在花前、花后两次浸渍白木纳格和红木纳格葡萄花序和果穗,结果表明,架面各部位的花期没有明显差异,红木纳格花期更集中.架面前部的白木纳格、红木纳格可获得98.7%、93.8%的无核果率和7.36g、7.41g的果实粒重,架面中后部的果实无核果率、果粒重等品质有不同程度的下降.     

基于颠茄发根的外源基因表达系统的建立

 用携带植物高效表达载体pCAMBIA1304 ⁺ “解除武装”的重组C58C1工程菌转化颠茄无菌苗真叶, 发根诱导率达100%。PCR检测证实发根型质粒pRiA4和表达型质粒pCAMBIA1304 ⁺均能整合到颠茄发根基因组内, 共转化率达30%。建立了基于颠茄发根的高效外源基因表达系统, 为将托品烷类生物碱东莨菪碱的生物合成关键酶基因导入颠茄, 实现其次生代谢工程及开展分子育种奠定了基础。