Immunogenicity and efficacy of fowlpox-vectored and inactivated avian influenza vaccines alone or in a prime-boost schedule in chickens with maternal antibodies

Inactivated and fowlpox virus (FP)-vectored vaccines have been used to control H5 avian influenza (AI) in poultry. In H5 AI endemic countries, breeder flocks are vaccinated and therefore, maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) are transferred to their progeny. Results of three immunogenicity and one efficacy studies performed in birds with or without MDA indicated that the immunogenicity of an inactivated vaccine based on a H5N9 AI isolate (inH5N9) was severely impaired in chicks hatched from inH5N9-vaccinated breeders. This MDA interference was lower when breeders received only one administration of the same vaccine and could be overcome by priming the chicks at day-of-age with a live recombinant FP-vectored vaccine with H5 avian influenza gene insert (FP-AI). The interference of anti-FP MDA was of lower intensity than the interference of anti-AI MDA. The highest interference observed on the prime-boost immunogenicity was in chicks hatched from breeders vaccinated with the same prime-boost scheme. The level of protection against an antigenic variant H5N1 highly pathogenic AI isolate from Indonesia against which the FP-AI or inH5N9 alone was poorly protective could be circumvented by the prime-boost regimen in birds with either FP or AI MDA. Thus, the immunogenicity of vaccines in young chicks with MDA depends on the vaccination scheme and the type of vaccine used in their parent flocks. The heterologous prime-boost in birds with MDA may at least partially overcome MDA interference on inactivated vaccine.     

Governing the landscape: potential and challenges of integrated approaches to landscape sustainability in Indonesia

Landscape Ecology - In recent years, landscape sustainability, the maintenance and improvement of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being in landscapes, has become a core objective...     

Metalaxyl-induced changes in the antioxidant metabolism of Solanum nigrum L. suspension cells

The antioxidant responses of Solanum nigrum L. cell suspension cultures to metalaxyl exposure were investigated. An increase in lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide content, for both concentrations tested (20 mg L⁻¹; 40 mg L⁻¹) revealed the response of oxidative metabolism of cell suspensions to metalaxyl. Superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 1.11.1.11) activities increased, particularly in the highest concentration of metalaxyl used. An analysis by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel (PAGE) followed by staining for enzyme activity, revealed seven SOD isoenzymes, two CAT isoenzymes, and nine APX isoenzymes. Metalaxyl levels were quantified in the culture medium and results suggest that suspension cells were able to accumulate and/or degrade the fungicide five hours after exposure. SOD, CAT and APX isoenzymes were differently affected by the metalaxyl treatment. Results suggest that the higher concentration of metalaxyl induced oxidative stress to cell suspension cultures of S. nigrum.     

Improving efficiency of sow productivity: nutrition and health

This reviews research focused to understand the nutrient requirement and balance to meet the needs of fetal growth, mammary growth, and milk production. This summary will handle how feeding strategies can be adjusted according to the nutrient needs for a sow to enhance productivity and health. Most research data used in this summary are based on the studies conducted by the authors between 1996 and 2013. Nutrient requirements of sows are affected by stage of gestation and parity of sows. Dietary antioxidant concentrations need to be re-evaluated for its sufficiency in sow diets especially to prevent excessive oxidative stress during late gestation and lactation. When feeding sows, consideration of phase feeding of gestating sows and parity feeding of lactating sows could enhances production longevity and health of sows. Use of selected nutrients and additives seems to help productivity and health of sows.     

Mucosal and systemic T cell response in mice intragastrically infected with Neospora caninum tachyzoites

The murine model has been widely used to study the host immune response to Neospora caninum. However, in most studies, the intraperitoneal route was preferentially used to establish infection. Here, C57BL/6 mice were infected with N. caninum tachyzoites by the intragastric route, as it more closely resembles the natural route of infection through the gastrointestinal tract. The elicited T-cell mediated immune response was evaluated in the intestinal epithelium and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). Early upon the parasitic challenge, IL-12 production by conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells was increased in MLN. Accordingly, increased proportions and numbers of TCRαβ⁺CD8⁺IFN-γ⁺ lymphocytes were detected, not only in the intestinal epithelium and MLN, but also in the spleen of the infected mice. In this organ, IFN-γ-producing TCRαβ⁺CD4⁺ T cells were also found to increase in the infected mice, however later than CD8⁺ T cells. Interestingly, splenic and MLN CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells sorted from infected mice presented a suppressive activity on in vitro T cell proliferation and cytokine production above that of control counterparts. These results altogether indicate that, by producing IFN-γ, TCRαβ⁺CD8⁺ cells contribute for local and systemic host protection in the earliest days upon infection established through the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, they also provide substantial evidence for a parasite-driven reinforcement of T regulatory cell function which may contribute for parasite persistence in the host and might represent an additional barrier to overcome towards effective vaccination.     

500,000-year stable carbon isotopic record from devils hole, nevada

The record of carbon-13 (delta(13)C) variations in DH-11 vein calcite core from Devils Hole, Nevada, shows four prominent minima near glacial terminations (glacial-interglacial transitions) V to II. The delta(13)C time series is inversely correlated with the DH-11 oxygen isotope ratio time series and leads it by as much as 7000 years. The delta(13)C variations likely record fluctuations in the delta(13)C of dissolved inorganic carbon of water recharging the aquifer. How such variations are transported 80 kilometers to Devils Hole without obliteration by water-rock reaction remains an enigma. The record may reflect (i) global variations in the delta(13)C of atmospheric CO(2) and, hence, the delta(13)C of continental biomass or (ii) variations in extent and density of vegetation in the southern Great Basin. In the latter case, delta(13)C minima at 414, 334, 246, and 133 thousand years ago mark times of maximum vegetation.     

Rooting the eukaryote tree by using a derived gene fusion

Single-gene trees have failed to locate the root of the eukaryote tree because of systematic biases in sequence evolution. Structural genetic data should yield more reliable insights into deep phylogenetic relationships. We searched major protist groups for the presence or absence of a gene fusion in order to locate the root of the eukaryote tree. In striking contrast to previous molecular studies, we show that all eukaryote groups ancestrally with two cilia (bikonts) are evolutionarily derived. The root lies between bikonts and opisthokonts (animals, Fungi, Choanozoa). Amoebozoa either diverged even earlier or are sister of bikonts or (less likely) opisthokonts.     

A 250,000-year climatic record from great basin vein calcite: implications for milankovitch theory

A continuous record of oxygen-18 (delta(18)O) variations in the continental hydrosphere during the middle-to-late Pleistocene has been obtained from a uranium-series dated calcitic vein in the southern Great Basin. The vein was deposited from ground water that moved through Devils Hole-an open fault zone at Ash Meadows, Nevada-between 50 and 310 ka (thousand years ago). The configuration of the delta(18)O versus time curve closely resembles the marine and Antarctic ice core (Vostok) delta(18)O curves; however, the U-Th dates indicate that the last interglacial stage (marine oxygen isotope stage 5) began before 147 +/- 3 ka, at least 17,000 years earlier than indicated by the marine delta(18)O record and 7,000 years earlier than indicated by the less well dated Antarctic delta(18)O record. This discrepancy and other differences in the timing of key climatic events suggest that the indirectly dated marine delta(18)O chronology may need revision and that orbital forcing may not be the principal cause of the Pleistocene ice ages.     

Genomic sequencing and methylation analysis by ligation mediated PCR

Genomic sequencing permits studies of in vivo DNA methylation and protein-DNA interactions, but its use has been limited because of the complexity of the mammalian genome. A newly developed genomic sequencing procedure in which a ligation mediated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used generates high quality, reproducible sequence ladders starting with only 1 microgram of uncloned mammalian DNA per reaction. Different sequence ladders can be created simultaneously by inclusion of multiple primers and visualized separately by rehybridization. Relatively little radioactivity is needed for hybridization and exposure times are short. Methylation patterns in genomic DNA are readily detectable; for example, 17 CpG dinucleotides in the 5' region of human X-linked PGK-1 (phosphoglycerate kinase 1) were found to be methylated on an inactive human X chromosome, but unmethylated on an active X chromosome.