Pathogenesis of porcine Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia, part II: roles of proinflammatory cytokines.

The in vitro production of proinflammatory cytokines after stimulation with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and the relation of these cytokines in vivo with the disease caused by A. pleuropneumoniae were investigated. Within 24 h, in vitro stimulation by A. pleuropneumoniae (serotype 1) preparations, including killed bacteria, bacterial culture supernatant, lipopolysaccharide, and bacterial extracts, porcine pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) produced significant (P < 0.05) amounts of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) as measured by bioassays. The supernatants containing interleukin-8 from PAM after stimulation by bacterial preparations showed significant neutrophil chemotaxis, while bacterial preparations alone did not. After in vivo infection with A. pleuropneumoniae, the mean levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in serum, as measured by bioassays, were elevated 37- to 27836-fold for TNF-alpha and 11- to 5941-fold higher for IL-1 within 4 d post-infection, depending on the treatments, and remained elevated up to Day 7. Both cytokines were also detected in porcine lungs by bioassays and immunocytochemistry. The results indicated that both secreted and surface components of A. pleuropneumoniae can stimulate PAM to produce proinflammatory mediators. Neutrophil chemoattractants rather than bacterial components are the major factor causing acute lung inflammation. The elevation of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in pigs occurred coincident with the onset of acute clinical disease.     

追施氮肥对‘镇麦168’产量和品质性状的影响

为给‘镇麦168’及其同类型小麦品种的大面积推广种植提供施肥依据,选用‘镇麦168’为试验材料,采用二因素随机区组设计,探讨追施氮肥对产量和主要品质性状的影响。结果表明,在底肥相同的情况下,在一定范围内追施氮肥,产量、籽粒蛋白质含量、湿面筋含量和稳定时间均呈抛物线变化。施氮总量相同时,拔节期追施氮肥对‘镇麦168’有极显著的增产效应,追施氮肥处理的平均单产比对照增产19.4%,其中以施氮肥A2(112.5 kg/hm²)处理的增产效果最为显著,较对照增1853.7 kg/hm²,增幅达34.3%,同时能显著提高‘镇麦168’籽粒蛋白质、湿面筋含量、面团稳定时间、沉降值以及容重。综上,在江苏淮南麦区生态条件下,以拔节期追施氮肥112.5 kg/hm²为‘镇麦168’较为合理的氮肥运筹模式。     

Integrated pest management of Tuta absoluta: practical implementations across different world regions

Journal of Pest Science - The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), has invaded most Afro-Eurasian countries and is threatening worldwide tomato...     

First record of Bregmatothrips dimorphus (Priesner, 1919) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Tunisia

During an inventory study of thrips species carried out in the central‐eastern coastal region of Tunisia in 2010 and 2011, Bregmatothrips dimorphus (Priesner, 1919) (Thysanoptera; Thripidae) was found on two host plants; barley (Hordeum vulgare Linnaeus) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench). This is the first record of B. dimorphus in Tunisia. Its distribution in other parts of the world and taxonomic characteristics are briefly presented.     

Immunohistochemical Expression of Potential Therapeutic Targets in Canine Thyroid Carcinoma

Background

Thyroid carcinoma is a common endocrine tumor in the dog. Local invasive growth frequently precludes surgical excision and, in up to 38% of dogs, the tumor has already metastasized by the time of diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to investigate new treatment modalities that may be useful for the large number of dogs with inoperable tumors or metastatic disease.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of potential therapeutic targets in canine thyroid tumors.

Animals

74 dogs with thyroid neoplasia.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was performed for thyroglobulin, calcitonin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p53, cycloxygenase‐2 (cox‐2), and P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp).

Results

Fifty‐four (73%) tumors were classified as follicular cell thyroid carcinomas (FTCs) and 20 (27%) as medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs). Eighty percent of FTCs and all MTCs had a high percentage (76–100%) of neoplastic cells immunopositive for VEGF. Thirteen percent of FTCs and 50% of MTCs expressed cox‐2. Seven percent of FTCs and 70% of MTCs expressed P‐gp. No tumor was immunopositive for p53 expression. Expression of VEGF (P = .034), cox‐2 (P = .013), and P‐gp (P < .001) was significantly higher in MTCs compared to FTCs.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

VEGF is a potential therapeutic target in both FTC and MTC in dogs. Cox‐2 and P‐gp may be useful molecular targets in canine MTC.     

Molecular phylogeny and morphological characterization of the aetiological agent of sour rot on fruits and vegetables in Brazil

In Brazil, sour rot is an important postharvest disease on fruits and vegetables. Geotrichum candidum (synonym Galactomyces candidus) has been reported as the main species causing this disease. However, the identity of the causal agent is still uncertain. This research aimed to determine the identity of 165 fungal isolates associated with sour rot obtained from fruits and vegetables in Brazil, and to evaluate the effect of different temperatures on the incidence of sour rot on artificially inoculated tomato fruits. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and morphological analyses, 129 samples belonged to Galactomyces candidus, 15 to G. candidum var. citri-aurantii, 6 to G. phurueaense, 2 to Gal. pseudocandidus, 1 to Hyphopichia burtonii, 1 to H. khmerensis, 3 to Saccharomycopsis crataegensis, 1 to S. vini, 1 to Magnusiomyces tetrasperma, 1 to Trichosporon coremiiforme, and 1 to Zygoascus meyerae. Two new species were found, namely, Geotrichum solani (on potato) and Geotrichum spondiadis (on red mombin). All isolates were pathogenic when inoculated on healthy tomato fruits, including the new species of Geotrichum, which were also inoculated into their respective hosts, that is, potatoes and red mombins. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the presence of five other genera besides Geotrichum associated with sour rot on fruits and vegetables in Brazil, which demonstrates the diversity of fungi and yeasts associated with this disease.     

Chemical composition of Lippia spp. essential oil and antimicrobial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila

Phytotherapy can replace antibiotic administration as an alternative to control Aeromonas hydrophila, one of the main bacteria involved in the aetiology of farmed fish diseases. Given that plants of the Lippia spp. genus show biological potential for antimicrobial activity, this study evaluated the chemical composition of essential oils extracted from Lippia alba, Lippia origanoides and Lippia sidoides and their activity against A. hydrophila. The oils were obtained by steam distillation in a Clevenger‐type apparatus and their composition determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (CG/MS). Antibacterial activity was assessed by calculating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using broth microdilution method. The main compounds identified were geranial (25.4%) and neral (16.6%) in L. alba oil, carvacrol (40.4%) and p‐cymene (11.4%) in L. origanoides oil and thymol (76.6%) and ortho‐cymene (6.3%) in L. sidoides oil. The three Lippia species showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal action against A. hydrophila, with MICs and MBCs ranging from 1250 to 5000 μg mL^?1. Of the species tested, the best performance was obtained with essential oil of L. sidoides.     

A rubberlike stretchable active matrix using elastic conductors

By using an ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, we uniformly dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as chemically stable dopants in a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer matrix to form a composite film. We found that the SWNT content can be increased up to 20 weight percent without reducing the mechanical flexibility or softness of the copolymer. The SWNT composite film was coated with dimethyl-siloxane-based rubber, which exhibited a conductivity of 57 siemens per centimeter and a stretchability of 134%. Further, the elastic conductor was integrated with printed organic transistors to fabricate a rubberlike active matrix with an effective area of 20 by 20 square centimeters. The active matrix sheet can be uniaxially and biaxially stretched by 70% without mechanical or electrical damage. The elastic conductor allows for the construction of electronic integrated circuits, which can be mounted anywhere, including arbitrary curved surfaces and movable parts, such as the joints of a robot's arm.     

Short-wave solar radiation level willingly tolerated by lactating Holstein cows in an equatorial semi-arid environment

The amount of short-wave solar radiation willingly tolerated by lactating Holstein cows on pasture was determined in an equatorial semi-arid environment. The study was carried out on a dairy farm located in Limoeiro do Norte, CE, northeastern Brazil. The observed behaviours were as follows: grazing, under the sun, under the shade, standing, lying, ruminating, idling and wallowing in the water. The behaviours were recorded using instantaneous scan sampling at regular intervals of 15 min from 0600 to 1800 hours over 5 days. On all sampling days, the meteorological variables, including local short-wave solar radiation (R _S-W, W m^?2), were recorded. The R _S-W data were divided into five levels. The sun exposure was more frequent under low (100 %) and moderately low (97 %) levels, when R _S-W remained below 500 W m^?2. The grazing was more intense under low (100 %) and moderately low (93 %) levels. Above 500 W m^?2, the grazing time significantly decreased (11 %). The cows avoided grazing under high (0 %) and very high (0 %) levels, when R _S-W exceeded 700 W m^?2. The ruminating behaviour was more frequent under high (33 %) and very high (37 %) levels, in which the highest averages of R _S-W were recorded (815 and 958 W m^?2, respectively). The standing posture was more frequent under low (100 %) and moderately low (97 %) levels. Therefore, the critical R _S-W level that motivates cows to stop grazing and seek shade was in the interval between 500 and 700 W m^?2.     

Contrasting effects of heat shock during in vitro maturation on development of in vitro‐fertilized and parthenogenetic bovine embryos

This study investigated the influence of heat shock during in vitro maturation on embryo development following in vitro fertilization (IVF) or parthenogenesis (Part). Immature bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes were exposed to heat shock (41.0°C) during the first 12 hr of in vitro maturation (IVM), followed by 12 hr at 38.5°C. Control group consisted of in vitro maturation for 24 hr at 38.5°C. Oocytes were in vitro‐fertilized or activated with ionomycin and cultured in vitro for 192 hr post‐in vitro insemination or parthenogenetic activation (hpia). There was an interaction (p < .01) between temperature of IVM and method of oocyte activation (IVF or Part) for cleavage at 48 hpia. Heat shock had a negative impact (p < .01) on cleavage of IVF embryos, whereas no (p > .05) effect was found in the Part embryos. Embryo development towards blastocyst stage at 168 and 192 hpia decreased in both IVF and Part embryos derived from heat‐shocked oocytes. Heat shock increased (p < .05) the apoptotic index in Part blastocysts, but no effect (p > .05) was found in IVF counterparts. Heat shock also down‐regulated the expression of AQP3 (p < .01) and up‐regulated the expression of HSP70.1 (p < .01) in Part blastocysts, whereas it down‐regulated the expression of ATP1A1 (p < .05) in IVF blastocysts. In conclusion, the effects of heat shock during IVM on early embryo cleavage and blastocyst apoptosis are influenced by the method of oocyte activation and expression of some genes can be disturbed in embryos derived from heat‐shocked oocytes.