Serum immunoglobulin fused interferon-�� inhibited tumor growth in athymic mice bearing colon 26 adenocarcinoma cells

Interferon (IFN) has therapeutic potential for a wide range of infectious and proliferative disorders. However, the half-life of IFN is too short to have a stable therapeutic effect. To overcome this problem, serum immunoglobulin has been fused to IFN. In this study, the efficacy of serum immunoglobulin fused INFs (si-IFN1 and si-IFN2) was evaluated on athymic mice bearing colon 26 adenocarcinoma cells. Seven days after the implantation of tumor cells, each group of mice was injected once a week with si-IFN1 and si-IFN2 at two different concentrations (10 × : 30 µg/kg and 50 × : 150 µg/kg). A slight anti-tumoral effect was observed in all 10 × groups compared to the control. In the 50 × groups, however, si-IFN1 and si-IFN2 showed significant anti- tumoral effects compared to the control. To gain more information on the mechanisms associated with the decrease of tumor size, a Western blot assay of apoptosis-related molecules was performed. The protein expression of cytochrome c, caspase 9, 6, and 3 were increased by si-IFN1 and si-IFN2. These 2 IFNs also increased the expressions of p53, p21, Bax and Bad. Interestingly, si-IFN1 and si-IFN2 decreased the expression of VEGF-β. Taken together, serum immunoglobulin fused IFNs increased therapeutic efficacy under current experimental condition.     

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of pig CD81

CD81, also known as TAPA-1 (target of antiproliferative antibody 1), is a member of the tetraspanin family of proteins and a component of the B cell co-receptor complex. Several studies have shown that CD81 plays significant roles in a variety of immune responses, including activation of B cells and T cells. In this study, we cloned pig Cd81 cDNA using RT-PCR coupled with rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR and determined the complete cDNA sequence of pig Cd81. Pig Cd81 cDNA contains an open reading frame (711 bp) encoding 236 amino acids. The identity of pig CD81 with those of human, cattle, rat, and mouse are 90.30%, 92.26%, 86.22%, and 86.22%, respectively. Alignment of the CD81 amino acid sequence with those of mammalian species showed that the large extracellular loop (LEL) is the most divergent, whereas other domains are largely conserved. Pig Cd81 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR in a broad range of tissues, including lymphoid tissues as well as nonlymphoid tissues, indicated variety of cellular functions of CD81 in most pig tissues. Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that human CD81 antibody recognizes a pig CD81 on the cell surface. Further, immunohistochemistry analysis using human CD81 antibody on pig spleen was revealed that CD81 expression is widely diffused in spleen tissue. Future study will be focused on defining the functional role of CD81 during the course of pig infectious diseases.     

Detection and molecular characterization of calf diarrhoea bovine coronaviruses circulating in South Korea during 2004-2005

Although the widespread occurrence of calf diarrhoea (CD) bovine coronavirus (BCoV) infections have been reported in most cattle producing countries, only the genetic differences in the BCoVs from American and Canadian isolates and/or strains have been identified and compared. Hence, it is unclear if the BCoVs circulating in the other countries have distinct genetic characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of CD BCoVs based on the deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of the spike (S) and haemagglutinin/esterase (HE) proteins in South Korea. RT-PCR and nested PCR using the primer pairs specific to the nucleocapsid gene, BCoVs detected the BCoVs in 56 (15.6%) of 359 diarrhoeic faecal samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the entire S gene indicated that 10 Korean CD BCoV strains clustered with other Korean BCoV strains with different clinical forms but were different from the American and Canadian BCoV strains. Moreover, the phylogenetic data of the aa sequences of the HE gene revealed all the Korean CD strains to be distinct from the other Korean BCoV strains with different clinical forms. These results suggest that the Korean BCoVs cause endemic infections in diarrhoeic calves in Jeonnam province and have taken a different evolutionary pathway from the BCoVs in other countries. Moreover, the different BCoV strains are circulating in the different clinical forms in South Korea. These results also suggest that vaccines against the BCoVs can be developed with each Korean BCoV in different clinical forms.     

Apparent digestibility of rendered animal protein ingredients for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The apparent digestibility of 20 rendered animal protein ingredients from various origins was determined in three digestibility trials. The ingredients consisted of eight blood meals, four feather meals, six meat and bone meals and two poultry by-product meals. Within each type of ingredient, a relatively large range of raw materials, processing conditions and equipment were represented. In each of three trials, a reference diet was mixed with test ingredients in a 70:30 ratio to produce a series of test diets. The reference and test diets were fed to rainbow trout reared at 15°C and fecal samples were collected using the “Guelph system”. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) for protein and energy of the four feather meals varied between 81 and 87% and 76 and 80%. Significant differences in the ADC for protein of feather meal were observed and may be related to the drying equipment. The ADC for protein of the two poultry by-product meals was 87 and 91% and that of energy 77 and 87%. The ADC for protein and energy of the six meat and bone meals varied between 83 and 89% and 68 and 83%, respectively. Treatment of one of the meat and bone meals by air-classification to reduce its ash content resulted in a significant increase in the ADC for protein and lipid. ADC for protein of the blood meals varied between 82 and 99% whereas ADC for energy varied between 79 and 99%. Spray-dried blood products (whole blood, blood cells, blood plasma) were highly digestible (ADC protein=96-99%). Rotoplate-, steam-tube- and ring-dried blood meals had significantly lower ADC for protein and energy than spray-dried blood products.     

Effects of Putative Growth or Health‐Enhancing Dietary Additives on Juvenile Olive Flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus,Performance

The effect on growth and body composition of various dietary additives with putative growth or health‐enhancing properties were determined in juvenile olive flounder (25 g initial weight). Nine experimental diets were prepared to contain one of the following additives: control (Con) with no additive, Opuntia ficus‐indica ver. saboten (OF), propolis (PP), lactic acid bacteria (LA), γ‐poly‐glutamic acid (PG), onion extract (OE), organic sulfur (OS), Biostone® (BS), and fig extract (FE). Fishmeal, dehulled soybean meal, and corn gluten were used as the protein source of the experimental diets. Wheat flour and soybean oil were used as the carbohydrate and lipid sources, respectively. Dietary additives were included in each experimental diet at 1% at the expense of wheat flour except for the FE (aqueous), which was substituted at 1% of the amount of water added to the diet. Fish were hand‐fed to satiation twice a day for 6 d/wk for 6 wk. Weight gain of fish fed the OE diet was higher than that of fish fed with the PP diet. Chemical composition of fish was not different among the experimental diets. OE was the most effective dietary additive to improve performance of olive flounder among additives used in this study.     

Enhancing β‐Carotene Content in Asian Noodles by Adding Pumpkin Powder

The influence of ripened pumpkin powder on the characteristics and qualities of noodles was investigated. Varying amounts of pumpkin powder levels (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10%) were added in making instant fried noodles. These four samples were then evaluated for β‐carotene content, physical dough properties, color, cooking properties, and sensory characteristics. Adding more pumpkin powder increased the level of β‐carotene in the noodles. Amylograph maximum viscosity and temperature and farinograph water absorption and stability decreased as the amount of pumpkin powder increased. Noodles made with more pumpkin powder had a more yellow color than those with less pumpkin powder. Cooked weight and volume were increased by 37 and 59%, respectively, when 5.0% pumpkin powder was added to the flour sample. Gumminess was lowest in the noodles with 5.0% pumpkin powder, while chewiness and hardness were lowest in the noodles with 10.0% pumpkin. Noodles with 5.0% pumpkin powder were the most favorable in appearance, taste, texture, and acceptability among the four samples.     

Prediction of the binding mode of imidacloprid and related compounds to house-fly head acetylcholine receptors using three-dimensional QSAR analysis

The binding activity of imidacloprid and related compounds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) of house flies was measured by use of radioactive α-bungarotoxin as a ligand. Variations in the activity were examined three-dimensionally using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). The CoMFA results suggest that one conformer among the four stable ones is active and provide support for one of the proposed binding models for this class of compound, in which the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring and the nitrogen atom at the 1-position of the imidazolidine ring interact with the hydrogen-donating and electron-rich sites of nAChR, respectively. The CoMFA field map showed that the nitroimino moiety and a portion of the imidazolidine ring were mainly surrounded by a sterically and electrostatically sensitive region of nAChR. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

Isolation of the groESL cluster from Vibrio anguillarum and PCR detection targeting groEL gene

Vibrio anguillarum is a major pathogenic bacterium that causes vibriosis and septicemia in fish and shellfish. In this study, we identified the groESL genes, which encode bacterial chaperonins, from V. anguillarum. The groE gene cluster consisted of a 291-bp groES gene, a 69-bp intergenic spacer region, and a 1,635-bp groEL gene order. Sequence analysis with the groESL gene of Vibrio species exhibited that the groEL gene was more species-specific and suitable than the groES gene for V. anguillarum detection. Owing to the difficulty in distinguishing V. anguillarum from the closely related V. ordalii, we compared the sequences of groEL from V. anguillarum and the groEL homolog hsp60 from V. ordalii, in order to design a primer set based on a region dissimilar between the two. PCR with the groEL primer set produced a clear 195-bp amplicon in six serotypes of V. anguillarum, whereas 23 Vibrio species of 39 samples, including V. ordalii, and 10 species of enteric bacteria gave no bands. PCR using the groEL primers also amplified a unique product from V. anguillarum-infected flounder and oyster tissues. These results demonstrate that the groEL-target PCR assay is a sensitive and species-specific tool for the detection of V. anguillarum infection.     

Effect of fishmeal substitution with various animal and/or plant protein sources in the diet of the abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

The effect of dietary substitution of animal and/or plant protein sources for fishmeal on the growth and body composition of juvenile abalone was determined. Nine experimental diets in triplicate were prepared: Con, SM, PM, CM, SPM, MB, SM+CM, SM+SPM and CM+SPM diets. A 350 g kg^?1 fishmeal was included in the Con diet, and the whole fishmeal was substituted with a 580 g kg^?1 soybean meal (SM), 335 g kg^?1 poultry meal (PM), 370 g kg^?1 corn gluten meal (CM), 325 g kg^?1 silkworm pupae meal dehydrated (SPM), 590 g kg^?1 meat and bone meal (MB), the combined 290 g kg^?1 soybean meal and 180 g kg^?1 corn gluten meal (SM+CM), 290 g kg^?1 soybean meal and 160 g kg^?1 silkworm pupae meal dehydrated (SM+SPM) and 180 g kg^?1 corn gluten meal and 170 g kg^?1 silkworm pupae meal dehydrated (CM+SPM) diets respectively. All experimental diets were iso‐nitronic and iso‐lipidic. The survival of abalone fed with the SM and SM+SPM diets was higher than that of abalone fed with the CM, SPM, MB and CM+SPM diets. Weight gain of abalone fed with the SM+SPM diet was higher than that of abalone fed with all the other experimental diets, except for that of abalone fed with the SM+CM diet. The combined soybean meal and corn gluten meal (SM+CM) or silkworm pupae meal (SM+SPM) could be replaced with the whole fishmeal in the diet for abalone and improved its performance.     

High temperature-induced alterations of volatile profiles in fragrant brown rice

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - To understand high temperature-induced alterations in flavor-determining volatile property of fragrant rice, the brown rice of...