Nucleic acid vaccines: research tool or commercial reality

Polynucleotide immunization has captured the imagination of numerous researchers and commercial companies around the world as a novel approach for inducing immunity in animals. Clearly, the 'proof-of-principle' has been demonstrated both in rodents and various animal species. However, to date, no commercial veterinary vaccine has been developed, or to our knowledge, is in the licensing phase. The present review summarizes the types of pathogens and host species for which polynucleotide immunization has been tried. We have tried to identify possible barriers to commercialization of this technology and areas that need attention if this promising technology is ever to become a reality in the commercial arena.     

The immunogenicity and efficacy of replication-defective and replication-competent bovine adenovirus-3 expressing bovine herpesvirus-1 glycoprotein gD in cattle

Replication-competent and replication-defective bovine adenovirus type 3 recombinants expressing the bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) glycoprotein D (gD) were tested for induction of gD specific immune responses in calves using intratracheal (1st and 2nd immunization) and sub-cutaneous (3rd immunization) route of immunization. The replication-defective recombinant BAV501 induced systemic immune responses against gD as low titers of anti gD-IgG were detected in the serum. However, the efficacy of the replication-competent BAV3.E3gD to induce gD-specific antibodies in the serum and the nasal secretions was superior to that of replication-defective BAV501 when both viruses were given at the same dosage. Partial protection from challenge was induced in calves immunized with replication-competent BAV3.E3gD. A dramatic increase in the titers of anti-gD IgG and IgA levels, both in serum and nasal secretions, following BHV-1 challenge (anamnestic response) suggested that the animals immunized with replication-defective BAV501 had been primed for gD-specific antibody responses.     

The epidemiology of nematode and fluke infections in cattle in the Red River Delta in Vietnam

Over a period of 13 months, faecal samples were collected monthly from approximately 45 cattle over 3 months of age. Additionally, 74 calves of 1-2 months were sampled to determine the presence of Toxocara vitulorum eggs. Individual egg counts and infective strongyle larvae from pooled faecal samples were examined. Post-mortem worm counts were carried out on six groups of tracer calves (n=12) that had been kept for 4 weeks on pasture in and around the village studied. The following helminths were identified: T. vitulorum, Cooperia punctata, C. pectinata, C. oncophora, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, Haemonchus spp., Fasciola spp. and Paramphistomum spp. In 8% of the samples collected from young calves, individual egg counts for T. vitulorum were found indicative for pathogenic worm burdens. Strongyle egg counts and worm counts indicated that transmission is low without a distinct seasonality. In animals of 3-9 months old, a strongyle egg count peak can be demonstrated which at a higher age steadily and significantly decreased. In faecal cultures Cooperia spp. were most prominent in all age groups throughout the year with the exception of the period September-November when Haemonchus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. were most prevalent. Fasciola spp. eggs were found in 22% of the collected faecal samples and the egg counts were low indicating that the intensity of Fasciola spp. infection is mild. Based on the present data, regular anthelmintic treatments seem not to be justified, except for a single treatment at the age of 2 weeks against toxocariosis.     

花粉主要营养成分与保健功能

6 眼病与蜂花粉 眼视力一般随老年人年龄增加而下降。研究发现，眼疾与B族维生素和维生素c密切相关。另外，白内障是老年人致盲的主要原因。尽管目前原因尚不十分了解，但与老年人晶状抗氧能力减弱和脂类过氧化增强有关。     

A matched observational study of survival in cats with enucleation due to diffuse iris melanoma

Although a small number of cases of feline diffuse iris melanoma have been documented to metastasize, the prognosis is not known. In this matched observational study, the survival time of 34 cats with enucleation due to histologically confirmed diffuse iris melanoma was recorded. These results are compared to the survival times of 83 age-matched control cats. Affected cats had enucleation between 2 and 10 years prior to the study. One group of control cats with eye disease had enucleation for either lymphoplasmacytic uveitis (27 cases), ocular trauma (seven cases), or endophthalmitis (four cases). In these control cats, enucleations were performed between 2 and 10 years prior to this study. Forty-five additional control cats presented for vaccination between 2 and 10 years prior to the study. The extent of diffuse iris melanoma at the time of enucleation in affected cats was graded according to the extent of involvement of ocular tissues and the invasiveness of the tumor. Affected cats have a significantly decreased survival compared with control cats and cats with extensive tumors at the time of enucleation have the lowest survival rates. Cats with tumors confined to the iris survive at the same rate as controls. These results suggests that early enucleation is important to avoid premature death, presumed to be due to cancer metastasis in cats with diffuse iris melanoma.     

翠雀内生真菌分离鉴定及分布特性研究

旨在探明有毒植物翠雀的内生真菌种类,作者采用表面消毒法分离,运用形态学鉴定,采用ITS序列构建系统进化树,确定了其内生真菌的种类。结果显示,从翠雀植物中分离得到22种内生真菌,将其根据亲缘关系进行系统进化分析,主要分为Ⅰ和Ⅱ两大种群,分属于6纲、6目、6科、7属,其中,链格孢属真菌（Alternaria sp.）为优势菌（占分离菌株数的31.82%,主要分布于花和叶中）,内生真菌在花中分布最普遍（占分离菌株数的40.91%）,其次,为叶（31.82%）、根（22.73%）和茎（4.55%）。结果表明,翠雀内生真菌在不同组织中的分布普遍性不同。     

功率输入模式对浆果微波加热均匀性的影响

提高干燥均匀性是微波技术在食品、农产品热加工研究的重要问题。为分析微波功率输入模式对浆状食品物料的温度及水分均匀性影响,以浆果果浆为高水分、高黏度、富含热敏性成分代表性物料,引入温度离散值、水分离散值、热区分布值、温度对比值指标表征加热均匀性,解析连续和间歇变功率输入模式对浆果微波加热均匀性影响的原因。结果表明：在微波输入功率为800 W的微波加热过程中,果浆中依次出现缓慢升温（I）、温度稳定（II）和快速升温（III）3个阶段,其中温度离散值与热区分布值在升温区增加、在温度稳定区降低;水分离散值持续上升,温度对比值增大至温度稳定区、在快速升温区减小;在浆果微波干燥后期,果浆料层内冷、热点间温度差引起不均匀性减弱。微波在浆果物料边角产生过热效应是引起加热不均匀性主要原因。间歇变功率微波加热工艺可以改善均匀性,随功率转换点的减小,果浆温度离散值、水分离散值、和热区分布值的均匀度改善率增大;微波功率比的减小可提高加热均匀度,但当微波功率比低于0.5时会导致加热效率低;间歇时间的增大可以进一步提高果浆均匀度改善率,但间歇时间超过8 min后对果浆均匀度的改善程度减缓;选用微波功率转换点为第Ⅱ、Ⅲ阶段交界、微波功率比0.5、间歇时间8 min更利于提高加热均匀性与加热效率。研究结果为浆果类物料微波加热均匀性的评价提供数学模型,优化得到的变功率输入参数为提高浆果果浆的微波干燥均匀性提供技术参考。     

Peanut allergen Ara h 1 interacts with proanthocyanidins into higher molecular weight complexes

Mildly extracted peanut allergen Ara h 1 was previously reported to occur as an oligomeric complex. In this paper we describe how the protein in this oligomeric complex interacts noncovalently with phenolic compounds of the proanthocyanidin type. These interactions are being disrupted during anion exchange chromatography, resulting in the dissociation of the oligomeric Ara h 1 complex into protein trimers. By use of the known three-dimensional structure of beta-conglycinin, a soy protein homologous to Ara h 1, proline-rich regions were observed in silico on both faces of its trimeric structure, which are conserved in Ara h 1. These proline-rich regions could explain the binding of proanthocyanidins to Ara h 1 and the formation of multiple Ara h 1 trimer complexes. This was supported by the observation that the addition of peanut proanthocyanidins to trimeric Ara h 1 and to beta-conglycinin resulted in the formation of soluble oligomeric protein complexes. The structurally related legumin proteins do not contain such proline-rich regions on both sides of the protein, and proanthocyanidins were shown to have a lower affinity for legumin proteins from peanuts and soybeans (peanut allergen Ara h 3 and soy glycinin, respectively). Ara h 1 present as the oligomeric complex is assumed to be the representative form of the allergen in which it is consumed by humans.     

Detection of genes with moderate effects on disease resistance using ovine mhc and resistance to nematodes as an example

Detecting some of the genes that influence disease resistance would improve our understanding of the processes that cause disease and also simplify disease control. Genes within the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) are strong candidates for disease resistance and they have been intensely studied for the last 30 years. Recently, several groups working independently have reported the existence of alleles within the mhc that are associated with enhanced resistance to nematode infection. This article uses hindsight to describe some of the potential pitfalls that hinder the search for valid disease resistance genes. The search requires a good understanding of disease biology, molecular genetics, statistical genetics and especially, the design and analysis of experiments. The power to detect mhc effects is quite low and is quite sensitive to the frequency of the putative resistance alleles.     

Spectroscopic characterization of mineralogy and its diversity across Vesta

The mineralogy of Vesta, based on data obtained by the Dawn spacecraft's visible and infrared spectrometer, is consistent with howardite-eucrite-diogenite meteorites. There are considerable regional and local variations across the asteroid: Spectrally distinct regions include the south-polar Rheasilvia basin, which displays a higher diogenitic component, and equatorial regions, which show a higher eucritic component. The lithologic distribution indicates a deeper diogenitic crust, exposed after excavation by the impact that formed Rheasilvia, and an upper eucritic crust. Evidence for mineralogical stratigraphic layering is observed on crater walls and in ejecta. This is broadly consistent with magma-ocean models, but spectral variability highlights local variations, which suggests that the crust can be a complex assemblage of eucritic basalts and pyroxene cumulates. Overall, Vesta mineralogy indicates a complex magmatic evolution that led to a differentiated crust and mantle.