Magnitude and kinetics of multifunctional CD4+ and CD8β+ T cells in pigs infected with swine influenza A virus

Although swine are natural hosts for influenza A viruses, the porcine T-cell response to swine influenza A virus (FLUAVsw) infection has been poorly characterized so far. We have studied Ki-67 expression and FLUAVsw-specific production of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 in CD4⁺ and CD8β⁺ T cells isolated from piglets that had been intratracheally infected with a H1N2 FLUAVsw isolate. IFN-γ⁺TNF-α⁺IL-2⁺ multifunctional CD4⁺ T cells were present in the blood of all infected animals at one or two weeks after primary infection and their frequency increased in four out of six animals after homologous secondary infection. These cells produced higher amounts of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 than did CD4⁺ T cells that only produced a single cytokine. The vast majority of cytokine-producing CD4⁺ T cells expressed CD8α, a marker associated with activation and memory formation in porcine CD4⁺ T cells. Analysis of CD27 expression suggested that FLUAVsw-specific CD4⁺ T cells included both central memory and effector memory populations. Three out of six animals showed a strong increase of Ki-67⁺perforin⁺ CD8β⁺ T cells in blood one week post infection. Blood-derived FLUAVsw-specific CD8β⁺ T cells could be identified after an in vitro expansion phase and were multifunctional in terms of CD107a expression and co-production of IFN-γ and TNF-α. These data show that multifunctional T cells are generated in response to FLUAVsw infection of pigs, supporting the idea that T cells contribute to the efficient control of infection.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-015-0182-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Influence of xylazine on the function of the LiDCO sensor in isoflurane anaesthetized horses

ObjectivePrevious studies showed an influence of xylazine on the LiDCO sensor in vitro and in standing horses, but did not prove that this interaction caused error in LiDCO measurements. Therefore, agreement of cardiac output (CO) measurements by LiDCO and bolus-thermodilution (BTD) was determined in horses receiving xylazine infusions.Study designProspective, experimental study.AnimalsEight Warmblood horses.MethodsAll horses were premedicated with xylazine. Anaesthesia was induced with midazolam and ketamine and was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. During six hours of anaesthesia CO measurements and blood samples were taken before, during and after a 60 minute period of xylazine infusion. Pairs of LiDCO and bolus thermo-dilution (BTD) measurements of CO were performed. Sensor voltages exposed to blood and saline were measured before, during and after xylazine infusion and compared using Bland-Altman method of agreement with corrections for repeated measures.ResultsThe CO values (mean ± SD) before xylazine were 34.8 ± 7.3 and 36.4 ± 8.1 L minute⁻¹ for BTD and LiDCO, respectively. After starting the xylazine infusion, the CO values for BTD decreased to 27.5 ± 6.1 L minute⁻¹ whereas CO values measured by LiDCO increased to 54.7 ± 18.4 L minute⁻¹. One hour after discontinuing xylazine infusion, CO values were 33 ± 6.7 and 36.5 ±11.9 L minute⁻¹ for BTD and LiDCO, respectively. The difference between saline and blood exposed sensor voltages decreased during xylazine infusion and these differences were positive numbers before but negative during the infusion. There were correlations between xylazine plasma concentrations, CO differences and sensor voltage differences (saline – blood).Conclusions and clinical relevanceThis study proved that xylazine infusion caused concentration dependent bias in LiDCO measurements leading to an overestimation of readings. Sensor voltage differences (saline – blood) may become valuable clinical tool to predict drug-sensor interactions.     

Tracing faecal pollution by coprostanol and intestinal bacteria in an ice-covered finnish lake loaded with both industrial and domestic sewage

The relationships existing between coprostanol (5β-cholestan-3β-ol), faecal indicator bacteria and various physico-chemical tracer and bacterial stress factors in an ice-covered Finnish lake were investigated. Field observations show that coprostanol lies below the theoretical mixing line, indicating a net removal, primarily by settling together with suspended sediments. Faecal indicator bacteria, however, are differently transported and are removed by various environmental factors e.g. industrial wastes. Thus, only faecal streptococci show a regional covariance to coprostanol. Principal component analyses reveal a strong correlation between coprostanol and faecal streptococci in water but not with coliforms and sulfite reducing sporing anaerobs. However, in sediments also coliforms are correlated significantly with coprostanol and faecal streptococci. Therefore it might be necessary to estimate the quality of those waters polluted by both industrial and faecal wastes by means of coprostanol, a principal sterol in sewage of man and higher animals, which is thus well suited as a chemical marker of faecal pollution.     

Biological soil properties in a long‐term tillage trial in Germany

After 37 years of different soil‐tillage treatments in a long‐term field experiment in Germany, a number of biological soil characteristics was measured. The field trial comprised six major treatments with different implements and various depths. In this paper, results from a comparison of long‐term use of a plow (to 25 cm depth), a chisel plow (to 15 cm depth), and no‐tillage are presented. The biological soil characteristics measured include the soil‐organic‐carbon (SOC) content, microbial biomass, enzyme activities, and the abundance and biomass of earthworms. Long‐term use of a chisel plow and no‐tillage increased the organic‐C content in the uppermost soil layer (0–10 cm) compared with the plow treatment. The microbial biomass and the enzyme activities arginine‐ammonification, β‐glucosidase, and catalase decreased with depth in all treatments. Arginine‐ammonification and catalase were higher in the plow treatment in soil layers 10 to 30 cm. Additionally, the chisel plow caused an increase in number and biomass of earthworms compared to both other tillage treatments. Differences in earthworm numbers and biomass between plowing and no‐tillage were not statistically significant.     

Experimenteile Untersuchungen zur Erforschung der regulativen Kapazitä-ten von Schafembryonen in vivo und in vitro*)

Contents: Experimental investigation on the regulative capacity of sheep embryos in vivo and in vitro: Embryos aged five or six days were obtained surgically or after slaughter. They were divided in two equal halves by micromcinipulation. Both halves of the embryos diweloped into blastocysts during cultivation over a period of 3 to 48 hours if conditions were fauourable. 2 out of 1.3 ewes lambed into which hulves of embryos had been transplanted that were obtained after slaughter. 14 out of 24 ewes into which halves of embryos had been implanted which were obtained surgically did not come into estrus again. 7 out of the 14 ewes lambed so far. The lambs developed from halves of different embryos.     

Pulmonary vascular pressures of strenuously exercising Thoroughbreds after administration of varying doses of frusemide

The frusemide dose-response for attenuation of exercise-induced pulmonary capillary hypertension was studied in 7 healthy, exercise-conditioned Thoroughbred horses using previously described haemodynamic procedures. Four different doses of frusemide were tested: 250 mg regardless of bodyweight (amounting to 0.56 +/- 0.03 mg/kg bwt), 1.0 mg/kg bwt, 1.5 mg/kg bwt and 2.0 mg/kg bwt. Frusemide was administered i.v., 4 h before exercise. Haemodynamic data were obtained at rest and during treadmill exercise performed at 14.2 m/s on a 3.5% uphill grade; this workload elicited maximal heart rate of horses. Airway endoscopy was performed post exercise to detect exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). In standing horses, frusemide administration resulted in a significant (P<0.05) decrease in mean pulmonary arterial, pulmonary capillary and pulmonary artery wedge pressures, but significant differences among the various frusemide doses were not observed. In the control experiments, exercise caused significant increments in the right atrial as well as pulmonary arterial, wedge, and capillary pressures, and all horses experienced EIPH. Following frusemide administration, the exercise-induced rise in right atrial and pulmonary vascular pressures was significantly attenuated, but significant differences between the frusemide doses of 250 mg, 1.0 mg/kg, and 1.5 mg/kg were not discerned and all horses remained positive for EIPH. Although a further significant (P<0.05) attenuation of the exercise-induced rise in pulmonary capillary blood pressure occurred when frusemide dose increased from 250 mg to 2.0 mg/kg bwt, all horses still experienced EIPH. It is concluded that a linear response to increasing frusemide dosage in terms of attenuation of the pulmonary capillary hypertension does not exist in strenuously exercising Thoroughbred horses.     

Setting targets in strategies for river restoration

Since about 90% of the natural floodplain area of rivers in Europe has been reclaimed and now lacks river dynamics, nature rehabilitation along rivers is of crucial importance for the restoration of their natural function. Flood protection, self-purification of surface water, groundwater recharge, species protection and migration are all involved in this process. It is now generally recognised that rivers form natural arteries in Europe but are also of economic importance and are recognisable cultural landscape. Many examples are already available of successful small river restoration projects. Several species thought to be extinct have now reappeared and characteristic species have also expanded in recent years. This paper concentrates on the concept of setting targets for river restoration as exemplified by the Meuse River. A modelling exercise shows the restraints of current habitat configuration and the potential for habitat restoration along the river. A policy analysis, using a strategic approach, illustrates the influence of the decision making process on the targets for natural river development. River dynamics play a key factor in determining the potential for persistent populations of target animal species along the river, with the help of an expert system (LARCH, Landscape ecological Analysis and Rules for the Configuration of Habitat). The potentials for the increase of dispersion and biodiversity and the maximisation of ecological benefits at different scales, are also considered.     

Systemic Accumulation of 12-oxo-phytodienoic Acid in SAR-induced Potato Plants

In potato plants induced for systemic resistance by infiltration with Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) accumulated in infiltrated leaves as well as in non-treated leaves of infected plants. In contrast, jasmonic acid (JA) levels increased only in infiltrated leaves, suggesting that the biosynthetic precursor of JA, OPDA, might play a role in systemic acquired resistance.