Western blot analysis of Leishmania infantum antigens using sera from pentamidine-treated dogs

Pentamidine treatment has been used successfully to establish immune cellular responses in recovered dogs. In this paper, we examined the appearance and disappearance of antibodies over time against crude Leishmania antigens and purified gp63 or gp70 proteins in sera from cured dogs using a Western blotting technique.Following the treatment, a pattern of antibody specificities to parasite antigens was observed in the sera of cured dogs. Antibodies to gp63 and gp70 were maintained after cure. In addition, the reaction with a 26 kD band observed during the clinical phase was no longer recognized by sera taken from recovery dogs. Interestingly, two proteins, 85 and 110 kD, not observed during the patent phase were detected by sera taken from treated dogs. Such patterns of antibody specificities to various parasite antigens might represent a useful parameter to determine the actual phase of the disease process.     

Streptomyces sp., a cause of fistulous withers in donkeys

Four of 10 donkeys, which showed lesions simulating fistulous withers, were examined clinically with the aim to cultivate and identify the causal agent. Aspiated purulent materials were subjected to bacteriological examination. The causal organisms were recovered in Tryptic Soya agar medium when incubated aerobically at 37 degrees C for up to 5 days. These organisms were found to be actinomycetes-like, Gam positive with stable branching filaments and to form heavy aerial hyphae on colony surface. The isolated organisms ere tentatively identified as Streptomyces sp. on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics. The initial sequences analysis of the 16S rDNA gene conformed that one of the isolates (SD551) falls within the phylogenetic clade, which encompasses the genus Streptomyces. Studies are underway to further describe the disease and its causal agent. The report represents a good evidence to incriminate Streptomyces in the aetiology of the fistulous withers.     

Construction of a microarray specific to the chicken immune system: profiling gene expression in B cells after lipopolysaccharide stimulation

The objective of this study was to profile gene expression in cells of the chicken immune system. A low-density immune-specific microarray was constructed that contained genes with known functions in the chicken immune system, in addition to chicken-expressed sequence tags (ESTs) homologous with mammalian immune system genes, which were systematically characterized by bioinformatic analyses. Genes and ESTs that met the annotation criteria were amplified and placed on a microarray. The microarray contained 84 immune system gene elements. As a means of calibration, the microarray was then used to examine gene expression in chicken B cells after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Differential gene expression was observed at 6, 12, and 24 h but not at 48 h after stimulation. The results were validated by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction. The microarray showed a high degree of reproducibility, as demonstrated by intra- and interassay correlation coefficients of 0.97 and 0.95, respectively. Thus, the low-density microarray developed in this study may be used as a tool for monitoring gene expression in the chicken immune system.     

Effect of exogenous putrescine on post-harvest life of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) fruit,cultivar Selva

Effect of different concentrations of putrescine on post-harvest life of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) fruit, cultivar Selva at 5 °C was studied. Fruits were immerged in 0.3, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM putrescine as well as distilled water (control) for 5 min, then transferred into the fridge (5 °C) together with untreated fruits (dry treatment). The rate of weight loss, ethylene production, flesh firmness, soluble solids content, titratable acidity and pH of fruits were determined 5, 9 and 13 days after the beginning of storage. Flesh firmness, appearance, color change and taste of fruits were also determined in the same intervals using a taste panel. Storage life of the strawberry fruits was significantly increased by the use of putrescine, so that the untreated and control fruits had 6 and 8 days storage life, respectively, while the immerged fruits in 1 and 2 mM putrescine were still suitable to be exposed in the market 12 and 14 days after the beginning of storage, respectively. No significant weight losses were observed in treated fruits compared to controls and dry treatment at all determination times. Ethylene production was decreased significantly by the use of putrescine. Untreated fruits (dry treatment) had the highest rate of ethylene production and the lowest rate was occurred in 2 mM putrescine treatment at all determination times (5, 9 and 13 days after the beginning of storage). The use of putrescine also prevented the softening of fruit flesh during the storage and kept their firmness, so that, the 2 mM putrescine treatment caused the highest fruit firmness at all determination times. Distilled water treatment (control) had the lowest fruit firmness 5 and 9 days after storage, while this occurred for the dry treatment 13 days after storage. Soluble solids content, pH and titratable acidity of the fruits were not significantly affected by the use of putrescine, but the highest and lowest rate of titratable acidity were related to the 2 mM putrescine and dry treatment, respectively, at the three determination times. Overall, the quality of fruits was improved by the use of 2 mM putrescine in terms of properties evaluated by the taste panel.     

The incidence of canine haematozoa in peninsular Malaysia

In 3 urban areas in Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia between 1973 and 1981, blood from 4080 dogs was examined for haematozoa. The following frequencies were found: Babesia gibsoni 17.7%; microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis 9.6%; Hepatozoon canis 1.2%; B. canis 1.1%; Ehrlichia canis 0.2%; Trypanosoma evansi 0.1%. A detailed examination of B. gibsoni infections and microfilariasis due to D. immitis with regards to monthly distribution, breed frequency, sex and age, revealed that pedigree and non-pedigree dogs were equally susceptible to Babesia and microfilariae infections.     

Age estimation of Arabian mares by incisors morphometry and dentition changes

Veterinary Research Communications - Accurate estimation of a horse's age based on the condition of the tooth status is necessary as a scientific and artistic technique, which has not been...     

Antinociceptive diterpene from Euphorbia decipiens

One myrsinol-type diterpene ester (1) isolated from Euphorbia decipiens was evaluated for analgesic activity in the acetic acid induced writhing test in mice. Different dose (5-20 mg/kg i.p.) of the compound showed significant antinociceptive activity, which was comparable to standard analgesic drugs, aspirin and ibuprofen (100 mg/kg i.p.).     

Morphinandienone alkaloids from Dehaasia longipedicellata

Five morphinoid alkaloids have been isolated from Dehaasia longipedicellata, namely (-) pallidine, a new alkaloid (+) pallidinine (1), (+)-milonine, (-) 8,14-dehydrosalutaridine and (-) sinoacutine.     

RNAi-mediated knockdown of INHBB increases apoptosis and inhibits steroidogenesis in mouse granulosa cells

Inhibins are members of the TGFβ superfamily and act as suppressors of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion from pituitary glands via a negative feedback mechanism to regulate folliculogenesis. In this study, the INHBB gene was knocked down by three RNAi-Ready pSIREN-RetroQ-ZsGreen vector- mediated recombinant plasmids to explore the effects of INHBB silencing on granulosa cell (GC) cell cycle, apoptosis and steroid production in vitro. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, flow cytometry and ELISA were performed to evaluate the role of INHBB in the mouse GC cell cycle, apoptosis and steroid production in vitro. The results showed that the relative mRNA and protein expression of INHBB in mouse GCs can be significantly reduced by RNAi with pshRNA-B1, pshRNA-B2 and pshRNA-B3 plasmids, with pshRNA-B3 having the best knockdown efficiency. Downregulation of the expression of INHBB significantly arrests cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and increases the apoptosis rate in GCs. This was further confirmed by downregulation of the protein expressions of Cyclin D1, Cyclin E and Bcl2, while the protein expression of Bax was upregulated. In addition, specific downregulation of INHBB markedly decreased the concentration of estradiol and progesterone, which was further validated by the decrease in the mRNA levels of CYP19A1and CYP11A1. These findings suggest that inhibin βB is important in the regulation of apoptosis and cell cycle progression in granulosa cells. Furthermore, the inhibin βB subunit has a role in the regulation of steroid hormone biosynthesis. Evidence is accumulating to support the concept that inhibin βB is physiologically essential for early folliculogenesis in the mouse.