Equine Proliferative Enteropathy Caused by Lawsonia intracellularis in a Foal in Brazil

An 8-month-old foal in Brazil presented with fever, colic, diarrhea, hypoproteinemia (especially hypoalbuminemia), leukocytosis, and hyperfibrinogenemia and became lethargic and anorexic with a poor body score. A diagnosis of Lawsonia intracellularis proliferative enteropathy was confirmed by fecal polymerase chain reaction and serologic testing, and the foal was successfully treated with oxytetracycline followed by azithromycin.     

An iron-acquisition-deficient mutant of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis efficiently protects mice against challenge

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic disease that affects sheep and goats worldwide, and its etiological agent is Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Despite the economic losses caused by CLA, there is little information about the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, and current immune prophylaxis against infection has been unable to reduce the incidence of CLA in goats. Recently, 21 different mutant strains of C. pseudotuberculosis were identified by random mutagenesis. In this study, these previously generated mutants were used in mice vaccination trials to develop new immunogens against CLA. Based on this analysis, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CZ171053","term_id":"58296493","term_text":"CZ171053"}}CZ171053, an iron-acquisition-deficient mutant strain, was selected. After challenge with a virulent strain, 80% of the animals that were immunized with the {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CZ171053","term_id":"58296493","term_text":"CZ171053"}}CZ171053 strain survived. Furthermore, this vaccination elicited both humoral and cellular responses. Intracellular survival of the bacterium was determined using murine J774 cells; in this assay, the {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"CZ171053","term_id":"58296493","term_text":"CZ171053"}}CZ171053 had reduced intracellular viability. Because iron acquisition in intracellular bacteria is considered one of their most important virulence factors during infection, these results demonstrate the immunogenic potential of this mutant against CLA.     

Short communication: Estrus synchronization using progestogens or cloprostenol in tropical hair sheep

The objective of the experiment was to compare the use of a PGF2α analogue (Cloprostenol) IM, with an intravaginal progestagen sponge, flurogestone acetate (FGA), and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) IM application protocol. A total of 30 cyclical hair ewes (54.07?±?0.5 kg live weight, body condition score 3.5?±?0.5, and age 3?±?1 years) were used. For the control group ewes (n?=?15), intravaginal sponges (IS) impregnated with 20 mg of FGA were inserted for 12 days with 500 IU of eCG IM at sponges withdrawal. For the PG group ewes (Treatment group n?=?15), two injections of Cloprostenol (75 mcg) were given 12 days apart. The presence of estrus was detected using two rams with 8 h interval beginning at the end of the treatment. Progesterone concentrations in blood were measured by solid phase radioimmunoassay. A student’s t test was performed to analyze the duration of estrus and the interval between the ends of the treatment and the onset of estrus (ET-OE) presentation. Progesterone levels were compared with two-way ANOVA, with treatment, and day of menstrual cycle as fixed factors. Treatment costs ratio was calculated by dividing the total costs of FGA IS application between total costs of Cloprostenol application. Significant differences (P?P?相似文献   

NsLTP1 and NsLTP2 isoforms in soft wheat (Triticum aestivum Cv. Centauro) and farro (Triticum dicoccon Schrank) bran

Isoforms of nonspecific lipid-transfer protein 1 (nsLTP1) and nonspecific lipid-transfer protein 2 (nsLTP2) were investigated in bran tissues isolated from caryopses of two cereal crops quite relevant for the Italian market, the cultivar Centauro of soft wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Italian emmer or farro (Triticum dicoccon Schrank). By sequential separation of the bran extracts on cation-exchange and gel filtration chromatographies, fractions containing only proteins belonging to the nsLTP1 and nsLTP2 classes were obtained. The proteins were roughly identified by SDS-PAGE and by immunoreactions in Western blotting experiments. By MALDI-MS and RP-HPLC/ESI-MS analyses we were able to show the presence of several LTP1 and LTP2 isoforms in the investigated species. Bioinformatic searches based on the determined Mr indicated that (i) two nsLTP1s already identified in T. aestivum have Mr and number of Cys residues identical to that of a 9.6 kDa protein present both in soft wheat cv. Centauro and in farro; (ii) two isoforms of nsLTP2 detected in T. aestivum have the same Mr and number of Cys residues of two 7 kDa proteins found in Centauro; and (iii) a nsLTP1 detected in Ambrosia artemisiifolia has Mr and number of Cys residues coincident to that of a 9.9 kDa protein found both in soft wheat cv. Centauro and in farro.     

Antioxidant activity of ferulic acid alkyl esters in a heterophasic system: a mechanistic insight

The antioxidant activity of some esters of ferulic acid with the linear fatty alcohols C7, C8 (branched and linear), C9, C11, C12, C13, C15, C16, and C18 has been studied in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases. Whereas in homogeneous phase all of the alkyl ferulates possessed similar radical-scavenging abilities, in rat liver microsomes they showed striking differences, the more effective being C12 (7) (IC50 = 11.03 M), linear C8 (3) (IC50 = 12.40 microM), C13 (8) (IC50 = 18.60 microM), and C9 (5) (IC50 = 19.74 microM), followed by C7 (2), C15 (9), C11 (6), branched C8 (4), C16 (10), and C18 (11) (ferulic acid was the less active, IC50 = 243.84 microM). All of the molecules showed similar partition coefficients in an octanol-buffer system. Three-dimensional studies (NMR in solution, modeling in vacuo) indicate that this behavior might be due to a different anchorage of the molecules with the ester side chain to the microsomal phospholipid bilayer and to a consequent different orientation/positioning of the scavenging phenoxy group outside the membrane surface against the flux of oxy radicals.     

Characterization of a 19 kDa alpha-zein of high purity

A highly pure alpha-zein was extracted from corn flour using ethanol (95%). Subsequently, ion-exchange chromatography was performed, using SP-Sepharose that yielded a highly homogeneous protein. This protein migrated as a single band in 20% SDS-PAGE and in pH gradient gels, showing an isoelectric point of 6.8. Mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) showed a single peak with a molecular mass of 24 535 Da. It was identified as Z19, when comparing the sequence obtained in an automatic Edman sequencer with the Swissprot database using BLAST. The molar extinction coefficient, determined by dry weight in 70% methanol, was 12 415.49 M(-1) cm(-1) at 280 nm. Light scattering showed its presence in a monodispersed state of 44-66 kDa aggregates in methanol (70%). Circular dichroism spectra allowed the estimation of an alpha-helix content that was lower than the one found for a mixture of two alpha-zeins but with a higher content of beta sheets.     

Activity, cloning, and expression of an isoamylase-type starch-debranching enzyme from banana fruit

Unripe bananas have a high content of starch (almost 20%) that is metabolized during fruit ripening with a concomitant synthesis of soluble sugars. Since starch granules are composed of amylose and amylopectin, several enzymes have to be involved in its mobilization during banana ripening, with a necessary participation of one starch-debranching enzyme (DBE) to hydrolyze the alpha-1,6-branches of amylopectin. Banana DBE seems to be an isoamylase-type enzyme, as indicated by substrate specificity and the cloning of a 1575 bp cDNA, similar to the isoamylase sequences from potato, Arabdopsis, and maize. The assays for DBE indicated only minor changes in activity during ripening, and the results of the northern and western blots with antiserum against the recombinant banana isoamylase were in agreement with the steady-state level of activity, since no significant changes in gene expression were observed. The high activity on beta-limit dextrin and the similarity to the potato isoform 3 suggest that during banana ripening the hydrolysis of alpha-1,6-linkage of amylopectin results from the activity of a pre-existing isoamylase-type debranching enzyme in coordination with other amylolitic enzymes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of activity and expression of a DBE from a fruit.