Update on the development of a novel dry cow therapy using a bismuth-based intramammary teat seal in combination with the bacteriocin lacticin 3147

: Public concerns over the widespread prophylactic use of antibiotics have led to a search for alternatives to dry cow therapy for the prevention of intramammary infections. A popular alternative is to infuse a teat seal at drying-off. The teat seal is a viscous non-antibiotic formulation and when it is infused into the teat canal and the teat sinus it forms an internal seal that provides a physical barrier to invasion by mastitis-causing pathogens. Enhancement of teat seal formulations may be achieved using non-antibiotic additives such as bacteriocins, potent proteins produced by some bacteria that have the ability to kill other microorganisms. This paper traces the history of investigations at Moorepark Research Centre into the efficacy of teat seal plus lacticin 3147, a bacteriocin produced by Lactococcus lactis DPC3147, in the prevention of intramammary infections in dry cows. Indications from on-going investigations are that a dry cow formulation combining the two products has considerable potential as a non-antibiotic prophylactic product.     

Porcine antimicrobial peptides: new prospects for ancient molecules of host defense

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small, endogenous, polycationic molecules that constitute a ubiquitous and significant component of innate immunity. These natural antibiotics have broad microbicidal activity against various bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses. Because most AMPs kill bacteria by physical disruption of cell membranes, which may prevent microorganisms from developing resistance against these agents, they are being explored as possible alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Pigs, like many other mammals, produce an impressive array of AMPs, which are synthesized predominantly by host leukocytic phagocytes or mucosal epithelial cells. Currently, more than a dozen distinct porcine AMPs have been identified and a majority belongs to the cathelicidin family. This review briefly summarizes recent advances in porcine AMP research with an emphasis on the diverse biological functions of each peptide. Mechanisms of action of these AMPs and their role in the resistance to infections are considered. Finally, the current status of pharmaceutical and agricultural uses of AMPs as well as future prospects for their application in the food animal industry is discussed.     

Interactions of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae membranes with porcine lymphocytes

Nonspecific mitogenicity of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae membranes for blood lymphocytes (BL) and bronchial lymph node lymphocytes (LNL) from swine was investigated. Additionally, the influence of respiratory tract exposure to the same membrane preparation on responsiveness of these cells was evaluated. Membranes utilized in lymphocyte transformation tests and for inoculation of swine were prepared by osmotic lysis of mycoplasma cells. Conventionally reared and cesarean-derived, colostrum-deprived swine were given membranes intratracheally and responses of BL and LNL to membranes were assessed from postinoculation day 0 to 14. Utilizing a stimulation index of 3 as the cutoff, heated (56 C) M hyopneumoniae membranes exerted moderate nonspecific stimulation of BL 11 of 12 times when BL were collected from normal (control or preinoculation) swine. Similarly, LNL from conventionally reared and control groups of swine were stimulated nonspecifically 4 of 6 times by the same membrane preparations. Exposure of the respiratory tract to membranes appeared to have no influence on stimulation responses of BL at postinoculation days 6 or 13, whereas moderate to marked increases in responsiveness of LNL were detected when collected at necropsy on postinoculation days 7 or 14. These findings indicated that compartmentalization of lymphocyte sensitization in the bronchial lymph nodes resulted from respiratory tract exposure to mycoplasmal membranes. Results obtained confirm that M hyopneumoniae has a moderate nonspecific stimulatory effect on porcine lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Morphologic features and hydrophobicity of the cell surface of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

Cell surface hydrophobicity of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae was evaluated by phase partitioning in a hydrocarbon-aqueous mixture, by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and by salting out with ammonium sulfate. Results obtained by use of these techniques gave evidence that the cell surface of M hyopneumoniae is weakly hydrophobic, compared with strongly hydrophobic Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I and hydrophilic Klebsiella pneumoniae. After treatment of the organisms with trypsin, M hyopneumoniae became less hydrophobic as measured by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Significant changes in hydrophobicity were not seen after periodate treatment. Electron microscopy of M hyopneumoniae treated with polycationic ferritin revealed an intermediate, compact, unlabeled layer between the cytoplasmic membrane and an external, heavily labeled layer. Electron microscopy of ferritin-labeled M hyopneumoniae after treatment with trypsin or periodate revealed the intermediate layer to be composed of a trypsin-sensitive protein(s). The outer layer was made of periodate-sensitive carbohydrate(s). Therefore, it appears that proteins in the intermediate layer confer at least part of the total hydrophobicity of the mycoplasmal cell and may contribute to adherence of M hyopneumoniae to target respiratory cells by hydrophobic interactions.