Buffalo hepcidin: characterization of cDNA and study of antimicrobial property

Hepcidin, a novel gene encoded, 25 residue, 2–3 KDa cysteine rich cationic peptide synthesized in liver cells play an important role in iron metabolism in addition to its antimicrobial activity. In this study hepcidin cDNA expressed on hepatocytes of Bubalus bubalis has been characterized and the antibacterial activity of buffalo hepcidin analog has been determined. The complete buffalo hepcidin sequence is of 324 bp and have an ORF of 249 nucleotides from 14 to 262. The sequence analysis at nucleotide level showed homology of 98.0% with cattle, 84.3% with pig, whereas with human, chimpanzee and gorilla 80.3%, 80.7% and 81.5% respectively. The percent identity of buffalo hepcidin cDNA to that of japanese macaque, dog, gibbon, mouse and norway rat are81.9%, 79.9%, 79.9%, 67.9% and 65.9% respectively. The hepcidin cDNA of buffalo and cattle showed a total difference of five nucleotides at position 15, 108, 225, 240 and 246 with no difference in deduced amino acid sequence. The base A¹⁵, C¹⁰⁸, A²²⁵, C²⁴⁰, A²⁴⁶ in cattle are replaced by G¹⁵, G¹⁰⁸, G²²⁵, T²⁴⁰ and G²⁴⁶ respectively in buffalo. The deduced amino acid sequence of buffalo preprohepcidin consists of 82 amino acids containing 10 strongly basic, 3 strongly acidic, 27 hydrophobic and 29 polar amino acids. The predicted molecular weight and isoelectric point (P^I) for the peptide is 8883.67 Daltons and 8.804 respectively. Phylogenetic analysis both at nucleotide and amino acid level indicate that buffalo and cattle hepcidin sequences comprises one clad which is more closely related to pig compared to human. The chemically synthesized analog of buffalo hepcidin using Fmoc chemistry in solid phase had antibacterial activity.     

The curative and antioxidative efficiency of ivermectin and ivermectin + vitamin E-selenium treatment on canine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sarcoptes scabiei</Emphasis> infestation

The objective of the present study was to investigate the curative and antioxidative efficacy of ivermectin and ivermectin + vitamin E-selenium, and the influence of these agents on oxidative stress parameters in canines infested by Sarcoptes scabiei. Twenty two sarcoptic mites infested dogs and nine healthy dogs of 6 months to 2 years of age were divided into three groups. Group I comprised of healthy dogs (n = 9) whereas animals in group II (n = 11) and III (n = 11) were positive for scabies. Group II animals were treated with only 1% ivermectin @ 0.2 mg/kg SC whereas group III were additionally treated with Vitamin E and selenium (tocopherol 50 mg + Se 1.5 mg/ml) @0.5 ml/20 kg IM at weekly intervals for three times. Blood samples were collected on day 0 and 28 post therapy. The values for hemato-biochemical parameters and activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) whereas level of lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in all the infested dogs in comparison to the healthy dogs on day 0 which approached normalcy by day 28 post therapy. The dogs of group III showed better clinical recovery in comparison to group II at the end of therapy. Thus, administration of vitamin E and selenium in addition to standard therapy can alleviate these alterations hastening the clinical recovery of diseased dogs and can be recommended as an adjunct therapy with miticides for canine sarcoptic mange.     

Elimination of erythromycin in milk after intramammary administration in cows with specific mastitis: relation to dose,milking frequency and udder health

Elimination of erythromycin in milk following intramammary therapy of specific mastitis in cows was studied. Five cows received therapy in one quarter (G1), and eight in two quarters with five milked twice (G2) and three thrice a day (G3). Dose infused was 300 mg/quarter 12 h × 5 times. The drug concentrations in milk were determined using microbial assay technique with Micrococcus luteus as the test organism. Considerable variations occurred in the excretion of drug; levels for treated quarters being 8.25 to 37.61 μg/ml at first milking that declined rapidly at 24 h and no drug activity was observed beyond 36 h post treatment. In total, about 6–25% of the last infused dose appeared in the milk. Drug crossed to 1/15 quarter (G1), 6/10 quarters (G2) and all the six untreated quarters (G3). Crossover levels were significantly higher in mastitic quarters and for G3 cows, but duration of excretion remained same in all cases. It seems that crossover of erythromycin to untreated quarters is related to the udder health and dose infused.     

Phylogenetic analysis of recent classical swine fever virus (CSFV) isolates from Assam, India

Classical swine fever (CSF), a highly contagious viral disease of pigs, is endemic in India. As there is no information concerning the accurate genetic typing of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) isolates in India, 16 CSF viruses isolated during 2005-2007 from domestic pigs in different districts of Assam were typed in 5′ UTR (150 nucleotides). To confirm the genetic typing results and to study the genetic variability, selected viruses were also analyzed in E2 (190 nt) and NS5B gene (409 nt) regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the 16 CSFV isolates analyzed belonged to group 1 and subgroup 1.1 in contrast to the situation in other Asian countries. Additionally, analysis in E2 and NS5B region placed the Indian isolates in a clearly separated clade within subgroup 1.1. The results suggest that subgroup 1.1 CSF viruses are currently circulating in India, which is important for epidemiology and control of CSF.     

Association between major histocompatibility complex microsatellites, fecal egg count, blood packed cell volume and blood eosinophilia in Pelibuey sheep infected with Haemonchus contortus

The objective of this study was to assess the correlation among traits associated with resistance or susceptibility to Haemonchus contortus infestation and to evaluate the participation of the ovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in Pelibuey sheep, a prevalent breed in tropical and sub-tropical regions in Mexico and elsewhere. Association among the fecal egg count (FEC), blood packed cell volume (PCV), antibody (AB) levels, serum proteins (SP) and blood eosinophil count (EOS) was assessed in 52 lambs experimentally infected with H. contortus, and the participation of the MHC was evaluated using polymorphisms in three microsatellites, located at the class I (OMHC1) and class II (OLADRB1, OLADRB2) regions of the MHC. Spearman correlation analysis among the traits showed a negative association (P<0.01) between FEC and PCV (-0.35), EOS (-0.50), SP (-0.30) and AB (-0.57), and a positive correlation of antibodies with EOS (0.50). The homozygotes for the OMHC1-188 and OLADRB2-282 alleles were associated with a reduction in FEC (-813 and -551, respectively). Conversely, the OMHC1-200 and OMHC1-206 alleles were associated with an increase in FEC (1704 and 1008, respectively). Furthermore, the OLADRB1-482 allele was associated with an increase of 163 EOS by allele copy, while the OMHC1-200 allele showed a reduction of 95 EOS in homozygotes. The associations among microsatellite MHC loci and the remaining variables were not significant. These results reinforce the evidence that MHC polymorphisms have an important role in parasite resistance or susceptibility in Pelibuey sheep and could be used as genetic markers to assist selection and improve parasite resistance to H. contortus.     

Effect of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on sialic acid and gangliosides present in human milk and infant formulas

The effects of simulated gastrointestinal digestion upon sialic acid and gangliosides in infant and follow-on formulas and human milk, as well as their bioaccessibility, have been evaluated. The gastric stage is the step that causes a greater decrease in sialic acid and ganglioside contents. The intestinal stage only decreases the total and individual contents of gangliosides. After gastrointestinal digestion, neither sialic acid nor gangliosides were found in the nonbioaccessible fraction. The highest bioaccessibility (100 × content in soluble fraction after gastrointestinal digestion/total content) of sialic acid is found in human milk (87%), followed by infant formula (77%) and follow-on formula (16%). In the case of gangliosides, the highest bioaccessibility is present in the follow-on formula (51%), followed by human milk (29%) and infant formula (5%).     

Chickpea and faba bean nitrogen fixation in a Mediterranean rainfed Vertisol: Effect of the tillage system

Efficient management of legumes in order to maximize benefits depends on a correct field assessment of N₂ fixation. A field experiment was conducted during a 6-year period (2001–2002 to 2006–2007) in Córdoba (Southern Spain) on a rainfed Vertisol within the wheat-chickpea and wheat-faba bean rotation framework of a long-term experiment started in 1986. The aim was to determine the effect of tillage systems [no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT)] on chickpea and faba bean N₂ fixation. Fixation was calculated using the ¹⁵N isotopic dilution (ID) and ¹⁵N natural abundance (NA) methods with the reference being the wheat crop. The strong inter-annual rain variation caused great differences in the behaviour of both leguminous plants with regard to grain yield, nodule biomass and N₂ fixation. The NT system showed more nodule biomass than the CT system in both legumes. The ID method was more accurate than the NA method in determining N₂ fixation. The average amount of fixed N in faba bean (80 kg ha^?1 year^?1) was much greater than that in chickpea (31 kg ha^?1 year^?1). The Vertisol under the NT system offered more favourable conditions for the stimulation of the N₂ fixation, with fixed N values that were significantly higher than under CT. The N added to the system through N₂ fixation was low in faba bean and virtually nonexistent in chickpea, only in terms of above-ground biomass.     

低压低成本滴灌系统的设计、构造与评估(摘选)

使用当地产材料,包括KB管、KB压力脚踏泵、带有微型管的压力桶以及医用输液管开发了手动控制低压低成本( LPLC)滴灌系统.对该装置进行了田间试验,并且针对西红柿与椰菜,对该系统的各种独立参数,如营养生长、水力性能、农作物需水量、水分利用效率以及经济成本从不同方面进行了评估.该系统的投资回收期为1个季度,效益成本比为1...     

Separation and preconcentration of Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Pb(II) in water and food samples using Amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with 3-(2-nitrophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione and determination by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

A separation and preconcentration procedure was developed for the determination of trace amounts of Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Pb(II) in water and food samples using Amberlite XAD-2 fuctionalized with a new chelating ligand, 3-(2-nitrophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione (Amberlite XAD-2-NPTT). The chelating resin was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and used as a solid sorbent for enrichment of analytes from samples. The sorbed elements were subsequently eluted with 10 mL of 1.0 M HNO(3), and the eluates were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The influences of the analytical parameters including pH, amount of adsorbent, eluent type and volume, flow rate of the sample solution, volume of the sample solution, and effect of matrix on the preconcentration of metal ions have been studied. The optimum pH for the sorption of four metal ions was about 6.0. The limits of detection were found to be 0.22, 0.18, 0.20, and 0.16 μg L(-1) for Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Pb(II), respectively, with a preconcentration factor 60. The proposed method was applied successfully for the determination of metal ions in water and food samples.     

Development of active polyvinyl alcohol/β-cyclodextrin composites to scavenge undesirable food components

Active food packaging systems based on the incorporation of agents into polymeric package walls are being designed to purposely release or retain compounds to maintain or even increase food quality. The objective of this work was to develop polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH)/β-cyclodextrin (βCD) composite films that can be applied to reduce undesirable component content such as cholesterol in foods through active retention of the compounds in the package walls during storage. Cyclodextrins were added to PVOH in a proportion of 1:1 and cross-linked with glyoxal under acidic media to reduce its water-soluble character. Three different cross-linking procedures were used: cross-linking of the polymer/polysaccharide mixture in solution and film casting, PVOH. βCD*; cross-linking of the polymer, addition of βCD, and casting of the mixture, PVOH*.CD; and casting of a PVOH film, addition of a βCD/glyoxal solution onto the film, and cross-linking during drying, PVOH.CD*. Characterization studies showed that the PVOH*.CD and PVOH.CD* films provided the best physical characteristics with the lowest release values and the highest barrier properties. As a potential application, materials were tested as potential cholesterol-scavenging films. There was a significant reduction in the cholesterol concentration in milk samples when they were exposed to the materials developed.