The influence of oral bacteria on tissue levels of Toll-like receptor and cytokine mRNAs in feline chronic gingivostomatitis and oral health

Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is an inflammatory disease of the oral cavity that causes severe pain and distress in affected cats. Treatment methods are currently very limited. The aims of this study were to assess the feline innate immune response by investigating the levels of cytokine and Toll-like receptor (TLR) mRNAs in tissue biopsies of cats with and without FCGS, and to relate this to the presence or absence of putative oral pathogens identified previously within these cats. Mucosal biopsies were collected from 28 cats with FCGS and eight healthy cats. The levels of TLR (TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR7, TLR9) and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ) mRNA was determined using quantitative PCR. In the FCGS group a statistically significant increase was seen in TLR2, TLR7, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA levels compared to the healthy group. In cats where Tannerella forsythia was present, statistically significant increases were seen in TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, TLR9, TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA levels compared to cats where this putative pathogen was absent. Statistically significant increases in mRNA expression were also seen in cats harbouring feline calicivirus (FCV) (TLR2, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ) and Porphyromonas circumdentaria (TLR2, TLR3) compared to cats where these putative pathogens were absent. Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida and Pseudomonas sp. did not significantly alter the expression of any TLR or cytokine mRNAs when compared to animals who tested negative for these species, while cats colonised with P. multocida subsp. septica demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the expression of TLR7, TNF-α and IFN-γ mRNAs compared to cats free of this species. The expression of mRNA for several TLRs and cytokines is elevated in FCGS. A positive correlation was observed between clinical disease severity and the presence of FCV (p = 0.001; Rho = 0.58). Although the number of cats harbouring T. forsythia was low by comparison, 80% of samples in which it was present were from cases with the highest clinical disease severity. Positive correlations with clinical disease severity were seen for TLR2 (p = 0.00086), TLR7 (p = 0.049), TNF-α (p = 0.027), IFN-γ (p = 0.0015), IL-1β (p = 0.004) and IL-6 (p = 0.00001) mRNAs. The putative pathogens FCV and T. forsythia may be important in stimulating a host immune response to FCGS and may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease.     

Graphosoma lineatum (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): a suitable host for mass rearing Ooencyrtus telenomicida (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

The species Ooencyrtus telenomicida (Vassiliev) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is currently being considered as a candidate for augmentative biological control agent (BCA) against several pests, including Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Protocols for mass production of a BCA need fundamental information on its biological attributes. Here we tested a possible laboratory host for the rearing of O. telenomicida: the common bug Graphosoma lineatum L. (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). At tested conditions, O. telenomicida biological parameters were: r_m 0.154, offspring production 84.07 specimens/female, sex ratio (% females) 71%, juvenile development time about 16 days, population doubling time 4.52 days, emergence rate about 90%.     

Abundance,activity and critical habitat of the striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba in the Gulf of Taranto (northern Ionian Sea,central Mediterranean Sea)

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An indoor solution for mass production of the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Müller fed on the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica butcher

Mass production of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Müller is carried out in a set of 50-liter polyethylene bags in which first the microalga Tetraselmis suecica Butcher is cultured and then the rotifer is grown till most of the algae are grazed.This novel procedure based on a monoxenic production technique, has been conceived with a number of aims in view among which the following should be mentioned: shortest time elapsing between the start and the end of the culture (1 week); minimal care of the cultures; light energy saving for indoor invertebrate mass production systems; unified culture vessel for growing algae and rotifers; accuracy and timing of planned rotifer production. Each bag maintained in the best reported conditions gives over 400 rotifers per ml as final production. Rotifer mass production in plastic bags is better achieved when operated in conjunction with a system of continuous monoxenic cultures of microalgae and of rotifers which provide the inocula.     

In vitro rescue of zygotic embryos of sour orange, Citrus aurantium L., and their detection based on RFLP analysis

Embryo development in vivo has been studied in four Citrus aurantium L. polyembryonic genotypes. Seeds were collected 65, 85, 105, 125 and 220 days after pollination (DAP). None of the immature seeds harvested 65 and 85 DAP contained visible embryos. A single embryo at a more advanced developmental stage was observed in the central position at the micropylar apex of the embryo sac in about 74% of seeds harvested at 105 DAP, while at 125 and 220 DAP the majority of seeds had two or more embryos at the same developmental stage crowded together. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of lowand high-copy-number nuclear DNA was used to distinguish zygotic from nucellar seedlings. Analysis of plantlets derived from in vitro culture of the bigger embryos, located in the central position at the micropylar apex of the embryo sac of seeds harvested at 105 DAP, established that the frequencies of zygotic embryos ranged from 82 to 88%. Media for immature embryo germination in vitro were based on the nutrients and vitamins of Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Murashige and Tucker (MT) media supplemented with various concentrations of sucrose and growth regulators. A total of 76% of globular stage embryos (<0.3mm) germinated on MT medium containing 150 mM sucrose and 14.4 μM gibberellic acid. Heart stage embryos (0.3-0.8 mm) germinated at 95% on MT medium supplemented with 150 mM sucrose and 2.9 μM gibberellic acid. The addition of 500 mg/l malt extract to MS medium increased the germination of early cotyledon stage (0.8-2.0mm) embryos to 98%. The optimum sucrose concentration for embryo rescue was 150 mM for the three embryo developmental stages. The ability to form plants in vitro strongly increased with increasing embryo developmental stage.     

Cutaneous lymphomatoid granulomatosis (angiotropic lymphoma) in a dog: immunophenotyping analysis

Veterinary Research Communications -     

Evaluation of ‘Tonda di Giffoni’ hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) clones

‘Tonda di Giffoni’ is among the most highly appreciated Italian hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivars. Due to its round kernels and excellent processing quality, it was awarded a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) from the European Union. To identify clones expressing improved nut and production qualities, a ‘Tonda di Giffoni’ clonal selection programme was conducted across hazelnut orchards in the Irno valley of Italy from 1995 to 2006. One hundred different clones were selected and propagated in a replicated trial under similar climate, soil, and cultural conditions. From this work, the 29 best clones were identified and from 2006 to 2008 their agronomic and pomological characteristics were observed. Microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to successfully confirm true-to-type identity of the clones. Traits evaluated included flowering time (anthesis), bud break, suckering, trunk diameter, nut and kernel characteristics and productivity (yield). Best linear unbiased predictions for clone means and estimates of intraclass correlation coefficient were obtained using R environment, lme4 and ggplot2 packages. Five clones superior to that of the standard of ‘Tonda di Giffoni’ were identified in this study. Furthermore, yield and number of suckers produced showed sufficient variability to likely be exploited for breeding. The selected clones express features useful for both growers and the processing industry and will be propagated and planted in hazelnut orchards for further study and commercial production.     

Changes in some blood parameters,milk composition and yield of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) during the transition period

In this study changes in hematochemical parameters, milk composition and yield were investigated in buffaloes during the transition period. A total of 93 buffaloes 113.9 ± 8.03 months old and 535 ± 50 kg average body weight were used. Parity was recorded, blood samples were collected from 80 days pre‐partum until 70 days post‐partum; milk samples were collected from 5 days to 70 days post‐partum. On serum samples, the values of non‐esterified fatty acids, β‐hydroxybutyrate, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma‐glutamyltransferase, urea, total proteins were evaluated. On milk, percentage of fat, protein and lactose, along with the somatic cell count (SCC), milk yield and daily milk production (DMP) were assessed. The peripartum period significantly (P ≤ 0.01) influenced all studied parameters with the exception of glucose. Milk fat percentage showed decreasing trend from 10 until 40 days post‐partum; DMP significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased from 1 day post‐partum until 40 days post‐partum. Milk yield significantly (P ≤ 0.01) decreased in animals over the sixth lactation. Our results confirmed the importance of transit period in buffaloes. Blood parameters and milk composition alterations are crucial to predict the energy balance status of buffaloes in order to improve their management and feed intake during the transition period.     

Introduction of a normal human chromosome 11 into a Wilms' tumor cell line controls its tumorigenic expression

The development of Wilms' tumor, a pediatric nephroblastoma, has been associated with a deletion in the p13 region of chromosome 11. The structure and function or functions of this deleted genetic material are unknown. The role of this deletion in the process of malignant transformation was investigated by introducing a normal human chromosome 11 into a Wilms' tumor cell line by means of the microcell transfer technique. These variant cells, derived by microcell hybridization, expressed similar transformed traits in culture as the parental cell line. Furthermore, expression of several proto-oncogenes by the parental cells was unaffected by the introduction of this chromosome. However, the ability of these cells to form tumors in nude mice was completely suppressed. Transfer of other chromosomes, namely X and 13, had no effect on the tumorigenicity of the Wilms' tumor cells. These studies provide support for the existence of genetic information on chromosome 11 which can control the malignant expression of Wilms' tumor cells.