In situ characterization of the granulomatous immune response with time in nonhealing lesional skin of Leishmania braziliensis-infected rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

We have recently introduced a macaque (Macaca mulatta) model of Leishmania braziliensis-induced self-healing cutaneous leishmaniasis in which the T cell-mediated inflammatory response effectively promotes parasite clearance and granuloma resolution. Here we show that macaques infected with a highly pathogenic L. braziliensis strain displayed longstanding granulomatous lesions which lasted until the end of the observation period (52 weeks). Immunoperoxidase staining of representative tissue sections indicated that distinct cell populations (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, Foxp3, CD20, CD68, HLA-DR, CCL2, and CXCL-10) change uniformly during infection, suggesting that the same components of the local immune response are working in unison. This model also confirmed that granuloma formation is orchestrated by diverse inflammatory mediators that are important for T helper type 1 (Th1) cell development and macrophage effector functions. Cytometry analysis of ex vivo granuloma-derived leukocytes revealed accumulation of distinct functional subsets of effector and regulatory T cells into the inflamed skin. We provide evidence that local interleukin (IL)-10 production by both Foxp3(+) and Foxp3(-) CD4(+) T subsets is likely important in promoting lesional granuloma maintenance. Further studying the immune suppression mechanisms that induces granulomas in L. braziliensis-infected macaques may reveal new opportunities for therapeutic control of this important human disease.     

Real-time polymerase chain reaction based on msa2c gene for detection of Babesia bovis

This paper reports a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) based on the msa2c gene and standardized with Platinum SYBR Green/ROX for the detection of Babesia bovis in cattle. The msa2c q-PCR amplified a DNA fragment with average dissociation temperature of 77.41°C (± 0.25°C). No amplification was detected when DNA from B. bigemina, A. marginale or Bos taurus was used as the template. The detection limit of the msa2c q-PCR was 1000 copies per ml of blood sample, with a linear correlation between the number of msa2c copies and threshold cycle. The comparison between msa2c q-PCR and conventional PCR for cytochrome b revealed 88.8% agreement, with a Kappa index of 0.75. In the comparison between msa2c q-PCR and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with semi-purified B. bovis antigen, agreement was 96.3% and the Kappa index was 0.91. The agreement between three tests was 85.8%. The msa2c q-PCR detected a higher number of positive cattle than conventional PCR in an enzootically stable area, but did not differ significantly from ELISA. No significant differences were detected between the three diagnostic tests with cattle from an enzootically unstable area. All animals raised on a tick-free facility were negative for B. bovis in the three tests. These results suggest that msa2c q-PCR is a useful test for the detection of B. bovis infection.     

Light and scanning electron microscopy of sporocysts of Eurytrema coelomaticum (Giard et Billet, 1892) Looss, 1907

CD154 is a cell surface molecule expressed by activated T cells. CD40 and CD154 interaction is critically important in regulating humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. In this study we have investigated whether a DNA vaccine encoding rhoptry protein 1 (ROP1) of Toxoplasma gondii, and encoding ovine CD154 induces an enhanced ROP1-specific immune response in sheep. Two groups of twelve animals received two intramuscular injections, of a DNA plasmid encoding T. gondii ROP1 antigen (group 1) or an ROP1 antigen fused to ovine CD154 (group 2). There were two control groups of sheep. One was injected with an empty vector (group 3) and the other received no injections at all (group 4). The injection of the plasmid containing ROP1 (group 1) at weeks 0 and 4 induced a significant IgG2 response at week 2 which was amplified at week 4 after the booster injection and persisted to week 8 compared to the control animals in groups 3 and 4. For IgG1, significant differences from the control animals were only observed from week 5 onwards. The fusion of CD154 and ROP1 elicited significant IgG1 and IgG2 responses from week 1 which were amplified from weeks 5 to 8 compared to the control animals in groups 3 and 4. The IgG1 response was significantly higher in group 2 animals receiving pROP1-CD154 compared to group 1 receiving pROP1 only. There was no significant difference in IgG2 responses between groups 1 and 2. Significant differences in IFN-γ levels were only observed in treatment group 1 at week 2 and treatment group 2 at weeks 1 and 2 compared to the control animals. The results demonstrated that an intramuscular injection of pROP1-CD154 gene to sheep significantly enhanced their immune response and induced a mixed Th1/Th2 response while the intramuscular injection of pROP1 only induced a Th1-specific immune response.     

Mammary carcinoma in a tiger (Panthera tigris): morphological and immunohistochemical study

The histologic and immunohistochemical features of a case of mammary gland carcinoma are described in a 14-yr-old female tiger (Panthera tigris). Immunoreactivity to estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), tumoral protein 53 (p53), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) was investigated. Neoplastic cells were negative for ER, PR, and p53 but showed positivity for VEGF, HER-2, and COX-2, both in the primary and the metastatic lesions. Histopathologic findings and immunohistochemistry results suggested that the malignant behavior of the reported case could be comparable with some aggressive cat mammary carcinomas.     

Effect of Stocking Density on the Growth and Survival of Spotted Sand Bass Paralabrax maculatofasciatus Larvae in a Closed Recirculating System

Abstract.— The effect on growth and survival of the initial stocking density (50, 100, 150, and 200 larvae/ L) in larval rearing of spotted sand bass was evaluated over 30 d in a closed recirculating system. Larvae were fed with rotifers, copepods, nauplii and adult Artemia , and spotted sand bass yolk-sac larvae. Water quality was monitored daily. The notochordal or standard length of sampled larvae was measured by image analysis. Specific growth rates at each density were compared by covariance analysis. Survival was estimated from day 15 to the end of the experiment, when a resistance test was used to evaluate the juvenile quality among densities. At the end of the experiment, mean standard length of larvae at lower densities was significantly larger ( P < 0.05) than at higher densities. Higher specific growth rates were found at lower densities. Significantly higher survival ( P < 0.05) was recorded for the lowest density, but the highest number of harvested fish was obtained with the highest densities (150 and 200 larvae/L). The lowest density also showed the significantly ( P < 0.05) higher survival after using a resistance test. We conclude the highest density can be used in larval rearing of spotted sand bass. However, better survival, growth, and seed quality are obtained at the lowest density. To recommend an optimal density for this specie, it is necessary to improve the water quality in the culture system and to make a cost-benefit study.     

Decreased systolic function and inadequate hypertrophy in large and small breed dogs with chronic mitral valve insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Systolic dysfunction associated with chronic mitral valve insufficiency (CMVI) has been demonstrated in experimental animal models and large breed (LB) dogs but has been reported as an uncommon finding in small breed (SB) dogs with naturally occurring disease. It has been suggested the myocardial failure could be, in part, because of an insufficient increase in left ventricular mass. HYPOTHESIS: To test if SB and LB dogs with CMVI and moderate heart failure have systolic dysfunction and if they have adequate eccentric hypertrophy. ANIMALS: Data from 38 SB and 18 LB dogs affected with CMVI were compared retrospectively with results from 2 groups of normal dogs (17 SB and 32 LB). METHODS: Systolic function was investigated echocardiographically by using percentage fractional shortening (FS), the ratio between observed and expected end-systolic diameter (ESD/ESDe), and end-systolic volume index (ESVI). Left ventricular hypertrophy was estimated by using the ratio between the thickness of the left ventricular free wall and the radius in diastole (h/R). RESULTS: Both affected SB and LB dogs had a significantly increased FS and ESVI (FS% SB 45.6 + 8.04 versus 40.06 + 8.9, P < .05; FS% LB 33.64 + 8.61 versus 27.3 + 7.3 P < .05; ESVI SB 30.0 +/- 2.3 mL/m2 versus 21.18 +/- 13.9 mL/m2, P < .05; ESVI LB 83.22 +/- 43.84 mL/m2 versus 36.43 +/- 13.30 mL/m2 versus P < .001). The h/R in affected animals was decreased (0.53 +/- 0.11 versus 0.41 +/- 0.12, P < .05 SB; 0.47 +/- 0.11 versus 0.38 +/- 0.09, P < .05, LB). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Data from this study indicate that dogs with moderate heart failure caused by CMVI have systolic dysfunction. Inadequate hypertrophy of the left ventricle may be, in part, responsible for this finding.     

Determination of reference intervals for metabolic profile of Hanwoo cows at early,middle and late gestation periods

Background: Metabolic profile was initially designed as a presymptomatic diagnostic aid based on statistical analyses of blood metabolites to provide an early warning of certain types of metabolic disorder. However, there is little metabolic profile data available about Korean Hanwoo cows. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reference intervals of metabolic profile for Korean Hanwoo cows.Methods: Healthy animals(2,205) were selected and divided into early(day 1 to 95), middle(day 96 to 190) and late(day 191 to 285) period according to their gestating period. Metabolic profile including total protein(TP), albumin(Alb), urea(UREA), glucose(Glu), total cholesterol(T-Cho), long-chain fatty acid(LCFA), aspartate aminotransferase(AST),gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT), creatinine(Crea), calcium(Ca), inorganic phosphorous(i P) and magnesium(Mg)were analyzed using a TBA-40 FR automatic biochemical analyzer. The data of Korean Hanwoo cows were then compared to those of the Japanese Wagyu cows.Results: Most of the data of the Korean Hanwoo cows were relatively higher than those of Japanese Wagyu cows, with the exception of Glu and GGT. This may indicate that the nutritional level of feed for the Korean Hanwoo cows was higher than that of the Japanese Wagyu cows because of the different feeding system. In particular, relatively higher levels of UREA and LCFA were observed in the Korean Hanwoo cows, and this may also contribute to the low reproduction efficiency.Conclusions: These findings may provide some theoretical basis for understanding the reproductive and feeding situation of Korean Hanwoo cows.     

Genetic diversity of papaya (Carica papaya L.) F5 recombinant inbred lines using the Ward-MLM strategy

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The development of segregating populations in papaya allows the development of new high fruit yield and excellent fruit quality pure line or hybrid cultivars....     

Biodegradation and Phytotoxicity of Biodiesel,Diesel, and Petroleum in Soil

Biogas must be pretreated before its use; thus, both physical and chemical methods have been implemented to remove the fuel’s principal pollutants (CO₂ and H₂S). Additional removal methods that use microorganisms’ biological processes to eliminate pollutants have also emerged. A selection was made from six bacterial isolates to obtain consortia that removed CO₂ and eventually H₂S through the enrichment of cultures and the construction of clone libraries of gene 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The results indicate that the principal differences between consortia were determined in the culture medium. C5 and C6 consortia had photosynthetic biomass 1.42 and 1.52 μg/ml, respectively, and concentration of dissolved CO₂ 100.6 and 99.1 mg/l, respectively. The clone libraries showed that Rhodopseudomonas sp. had percentages 46.6, 42.5, and 86.8 % in C4, C5, and C6, respectively; Xanthobacter sp., 24.5 %, Castellaniella sp., 18 % in C5, and Sphingobium sp., 39.2 % in C4.     

Accumulation and erosion of Mars' south polar layered deposits

Mars' polar regions are covered with ice-rich layered deposits that potentially contain a record of climate variations. The sounding radar SHARAD on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mapped detailed subsurface stratigraphy in the Promethei Lingula region of the south polar plateau, Planum Australe. Radar reflections interpreted as layers are correlated across adjacent orbits and are continuous for up to 150 kilometers along spacecraft orbital tracks. The reflectors are often separated into discrete reflector sequences, and strong echoes are seen as deep as 1 kilometer. In some cases, the sequences are dipping with respect to each other, suggesting an interdepositional period of erosion. In Australe Sulci, layers are exhumed, indicating recent erosion.