Evidence of subclinical foot-and-mouth disease virus infection in young calves born from clinically recovered cow under natural condition

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and economically important, transboundary viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals. It is known that an...     

Acrylamide in French fries: influence of free amino acids and sugars

The free amino acid profile and sugar (fructose, glucose, and sucrose) composition were determined in potato samples selected to give a large range of variation (a total of 66 samples). From these samples French fries were produced in a laboratory-scale simulation of an industrial process followed by a finish fry at 180 degrees C for 3.5 min using a restaurant fryer. The final product was blast frozen and analyzed for acrylamide. Acrylamide was detected in all samples, but its concentration varied significantly from 50 to 1800 ng/g. For isotope dilution (13C3) acrylamide analysis, samples were extracted with water, cleaned up on HLB Oasis polymeric and Accucat mixed mode anion and cation exchange SPE columns, and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Statistical analysis of the data indicates that the effect of sugars and asparagine on the concentration of acrylamide in French fries is positive and significant (p < 0.001). It appears that one of the ways acrylamide formation in French fries can be effectively controlled is by the use of raw products with low sugar (and to a lesser degree, asparagine) content.     

Conformational control of the Ste5 scaffold protein insulates against MAP kinase misactivation

Cells reuse signaling proteins in multiple pathways, raising the potential for improper cross talk. Scaffold proteins are thought to insulate against such miscommunication by sequestering proteins into distinct physical complexes. We show that the scaffold protein Ste5, which organizes the yeast mating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, does not use sequestration to prevent misactivation of the mating response. Instead, Ste5 appears to use a conformation mechanism: Under basal conditions, an intramolecular interaction of the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain with the von Willebrand type A (VWA) domain blocks the ability to coactivate the mating-specific MAPK Fus3. Pheromone-induced membrane binding of Ste5 triggers release of this autoinhibition. Thus, in addition to serving as a conduit guiding kinase communication, Ste5 directly receives input information to decide if and when signal can be transmitted to mating output.     

Emergence of antigenic variants with in serotype A foot and mouth disease virus in India and evaluation of a new vaccine candidate panel

Emergence of genetically and antigenically divergent lineages/genotypes and poor intergenotypic antigenic coverage is a major concern in serotype A foot-and-mouth-disease virus (FMDV) in India. In 2009, to cover antigenic diversity emerged in serotype A virus field isolates, IND40/2000 was selected as the new vaccine strain for incorporation in the trivalent FMD vaccine formulation used in India. Although current vaccine strain (IND40/2000) covers most isolates antigenically, a few VP3(59)-deletion group isolates showed low r-value in routine vaccine matching exercise. The VP3(59)-deletion group within genotype 18 emerged first in late part of 2002 and in 2007 causing outbreaks along with non-deletion isolates of the same genotype. In case of emergence or re-emergence of more antigenically divergent isolates in future, a need for a new vaccine candidate to cover maximum isolates of both deletion and non-deletion group may arise. Four alternate candidate vaccine strains (IND281/2003, IND195/2007, IND360/2007 and IND123/2008) were selected based on set criteria and antigenic relationships with field isolates sampled between 2002 and 2009 were analyzed using a micro-neutralization test. Phylogenetic analysis based on capsid region of serotype A isolates revealed existence of two broad distinct clusters (VP3(59)-deletion and non-deletion group) within genotype 18. The VP3(59)-deletion group has diversified genetically with time giving rise to three different sub-lineages (clade18a, 18b and 18c). The present study indicates that the virus candidates IND281/2003 (VP3(59)-deletion group) and IND195/2007 (non-deletion group) can be used as an adjunct or alternative strain to currently used vaccine strain IND40/2000 in case of emergence of more antigenically divergent isolates in future.     

Assessment of suitability of two serotype A candidate vaccine strains for inclusion in FMD vaccine in India

The recent type A foot and mouth disease virus field isolates recovered in India are shown to be antigenically quite divergent from the in-use vaccine strain (IND 17/82), warranting the selection of a suitable vaccine strain which can cover this diversity in antigenic spectrum. In earlier studies employing neutralization test with anti-146S rabbit sera raised against eight candidate vaccine strains, IND 81/00 and IND 40/00 belonging to genotype VII were found to offer the best antigenic coverage. In order to assess the credibility of IND 81/00 and IND 40/00 as vaccine strains, 17 recent isolates received during 2005-2006 and representative isolates from older genotypes were subjected to two-dimensional micro-neutralization assay using bovine convalescent serum (against IND 81/00 and IND 40/00) and bovine vaccinate serum (against IND 40/00). From the results it is evident that both the isolates IND 81/00 (antigenic relationship 'r-value' >0.40 with 86% of isolates) and IND 40/00 ('r-value' >0.40 with 78% of isolates) show nearly equal antigenic relatedness with the recent field viruses and hence both of these are effective vaccine candidates in present context. Though very limited in its extent, these useful data obtained with antisera raised in homologous host system are logical extension of the on going quest for the appropriate vaccine strain and circumvents species disparities in the immune recognition of epitopes.     

Haematological and biochemical responses of freshwater teleost fish Cyprinus carpio (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes) during acute and chronic sublethal exposure to lindane

The impact of acute and sublethal toxicity of a synthetic organochlorine pesticide lindane on some haematological and biochemical parameters of a freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio was estimated. The median lethal concentration of lindane for 24 h was 0.38 ppm. During acute treatment (24 h), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) and erythrocyte (RBC) values were decreased, whereas leucocyte (WBC) count increased in the pesticide treated fish. The hematological indices like mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cellular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were decreased when compared to control group. Biochemical profiles like plasma glucose and protein levels were increased in lindane exposed fish showing a percent increase of 50.36 and 3.98 at the end of 24 h treatment. However, glycogen content in liver and muscle were decreased showing a percent decrease of 21.70 and 1.74. In sublethal treatment (1/10th of LC50 24 h value, 0.038 ppm), RBC count was decreased whereas WBC count increased in the pesticide treated fish throughout the study period (25 days). Hb and Hct values were decreased up to 10th day and after that recovered showing a significant increase in the rest of the study period. Similarly, a biphasic response was observed in the value of MCV, MCH and MCHC. Plasma glucose level was significantly increased while plasma protein level decreased throughout the study period. Further, glycogen level in muscle and liver were showed a mixed trend. In the present study, the pesticide lindane caused alterations on haematological and biochemical parameters of C. carpio and these alterations can be used as non specific biomarkers in pesticide contaminated aquatic ecosystem.     

Oceanic forcing of Sahel rainfall on interannual to interdecadal time scales

We present evidence, based on an ensemble of integrations with NSIPP1 (version 1 of the atmospheric general circulation model developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in the framework of the Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction Project) forced only by the observed record of sea surface temperature from 1930 to 2000, to suggest that variability of rainfall in the Sahel results from the response of the African summer monsoon to oceanic forcing, amplified by land-atmosphere interaction. The recent drying trend in the semiarid Sahel is attributed to warmer-than-average low-latitude waters around Africa, which, by favoring the establishment of deep convection over the ocean, weaken the continental convergence associated with the monsoon and engender widespread drought from Senegal to Ethiopia.     

Effects of liquid seaweed extracts in improving the agronomic performance of foxtail millet

Abstract

In recent decades, chemical fertilizers create a thread to organic agriculture and food security. To overcome this issue, the present study aimed to investigate the influence of liquid seaweed extracts (LSEs) prepared from Padina boergesenii (PB) and Gracilaria edulis (GE) on growth, development, biochemical characteristics and yield traits of foxtail millet. The various concentrations of individual (20, 40, 60, and 80%; v/v) and combined (10?+?10, 20?+?20, 30?+?30, and 40?+?40%; v/v) PB and GE LSEs were supplied through foliar spray method. The results imply that germination bioassays, vegetative plant growth were significantly increased in lower concentration of LSEs. Further, exposure of foxtail plants to combined foliar spray application of (20?+?20%; v/v) LSEs enriched photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugar and total soluble protein, compared with single LSEs and control foliar spray methods. Additionally, LSEs enhanced the yield attributes such as the average number of seeds (971.5/panicle) and mean length of panicle (18.4?cm) in PB?+?GE LSEs (20?+?20%; v/v) treatment. This is the first report, to assess the synergistic biostimulant ability of PB and GE LSEs in plant growth, quality improvement and yield attributes of foxtail millet. In conclusion, this present study suggests that combination of PB?+?GE LSEs foliar spray application could serve as an ideal biostimulant and a potential alternate to hazards chemical fertilizer in the green agriculture.     

Expression of iron regulatory proteins in full-term swine placenta

In swine, even though the pregnant sows were with iron abundance, the inborn iron reserve of piglets was compromised. This indicates the insufficiency of molecular machinery involved in local placental iron flux. Here, we investigated the expression of iron regulatory proteins like hepcidin and ferroportin and also their association with iron reserve, inflammation and oxidative stress in placenta of full-term pregnant sows (n = 6). Amplification and sequencing of placental DNA confirmed the presence of hepcidin (MN579557) and ferroportin (MN565887) sequences and their 100% identity with existing GenBank data. Real-time amplification of placental mRNA revealed significant higher expression of hepcidin (p < .05) than ferroportin. Western blot analysis of placental tissues revealed specific bands for both hepcidin (~8 kDa) and ferroportin (~62 kDa) molecules. Immunohistochemistry revealed the immunoreactivity for both proteins in the cytoplasm and membrane of trophoblastic cells of the placenta. Hepcidin and ferroportin expressions were positively associated with placental non-haem iron reserve (p < .0001; p = .033), lipid peroxidation (p = .0060; p < .0001) and reactive oxygen species level (p = .0092; p = .0292). Hepcidin expression was positively associated with interleukin – 6 (p = .0002) and interferon gamma (p < .0001) expressions but ferroportin expression was negatively associated with interleukin-6 (p = .0005), interleukin-1β (p = .0226) and interferon gamma (p = .0059) expressions. This indicates hepcidin and ferroportin may have a role in controlling the local placental iron flux by acting as a molecular bridge between iron trafficking and inflammation.