Exploitation of intestinal colonization-inhibition between salmonella organisms for live vaccines in poultry: potential and limitations

Immunization represents one of the most important methods to increase the resistance of chickens against Salmonella infection. In addition to the development of an adaptive immune response, oral administration of live Salmonella strains to day-old chicks provides protection against infection within hours by intestinal colonization-inhibition. For the exploitation of this phenomenon, practical information on colonization-inhibition between Salmonella organisms is needed. Colonization-inhibition capacity between Salmonella strains from serogroups B, C1, C2, D and G was assessed in chickens. The most profound level of intestinal colonization-inhibition occurred between isogenic strains. Inhibition between strains of the same serovar was greater than that between strains of different serovars. The degree of inhibition between different serovars was not sufficiently high to identify a single strain which might inhibit a wide range of other Salmonella organisms. However, as Salmonella Enteritidis is the dominant serovar in poultry in many countries and because of the profound colonization-inhibition within this serovar there is a considerable potential to exploit this phenomenon in the development of novel live S. Enteritidis vaccines. Treatment of young chicks with mixtures of different Salmonella serovars resulted not only in a very strong growth inhibition of the isogenic strains but also in a substantial inhibition of heterologous serovars. The potential of mixtures of heterologous Salmonella strains as a 'Salmonella Inhibition Culture' and as a 'live Salmonella vaccine' should be further explored.

Microarray profiling reveals that placental transcriptomes of early-onset HELLP syndrome and preeclampsia are similar

BACKGROUND

The involvement of the placenta in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome is well established, and placental lesions are also similar in these two syndromes. Here we aimed to examine the placental transcriptome and to identify candidate biomarkers in early-onset preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

METHODS

Placental specimens were obtained at C-sections from women with early-onset preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, and from controls who delivered preterm or at term. After histopathological examination, fresh-frozen placental specimens were used for microarray profiling and validation by qRT-PCR. Differential expression was analysed using log-linear models while adjusting for gestational age. Gene ontology and pathway analyses were used to interpret gene expression changes. Tissue microarrays were constructed from paraffin-embedded placental specimens and immunostained.

RESULTS

Placental gene expression was gestational age-dependent among preterm and term controls. Out of the 350 differentially expressed genes in preeclampsia and 554 genes in HELLP syndrome, 224 genes (including LEP, CGB, LHB, INHA, SIGLEC6, PAPPA2, TREM1, and FLT1) changed in the same direction (elevated or reduced) in both syndromes. Many of these encode proteins that have been implicated as biomarkers for preeclampsia. Enrichment analyses revealed similar biological processes, cellular compartments and biological pathways enriched in early-onset preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome; however, some processes and pathways (e.g., cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction) were over-represented only in HELLP syndrome.

CONCLUSION

High-throughput transcriptional and tissue microarray expression profiling revealed that placental transcriptomes of early-onset preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome largely overlap, underlying a potential common cause and pathophysiologic processes in these syndromes. However, gene expression changes may also suggest a more severe placental pathology and pronounced inflammatory response in HELLP syndrome than in preeclampsia.

Successful surgical intervention in a case of spontaneous chylothorax in an infant unresponsive to conservative therapy

We report a case of an infant with spontaneous chylothorax due to the congenital malformation of a small lymph vessel of the chest wall. Conservative therapy with omitting long-chain fatty acids from the diet, fat-free nutrition, total parenteral nutrition and intravenous somatostatin did not result in the decrease of pleural effusion. Thoracic surgical intervention performing thoracic duct ligation and using fibrin sealants was applied after 10 days of unsuccessful conservative therapy, and resulted in the complete recovery of the patient. Our experience support the already existing observations, that in cases where the daily loss of chyle exceeds 100 ml per age years and/or lasts longer than 2 weeks, early surgical intervention is recommended.

ITF2357 interferes with apoptosis and inflammatory pathways in the HL-60 model: a gene expression study

BACKGROUND

Cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects exerted by the histone deacetylase inhibitor ITF2357 have been reported in acute myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells. In the current study, its mechanism of action was investigated at the molecular level.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell proliferation was evaluated by methyl thiazol tetrazolium bromide reduction; apoptosis by annexin V, mitochondrial transmembrane potential by tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester. Functional experiments and gene expression evaluations were performed by flow cytometry, microarray, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Significant cell growth inhibition and increased apoptosis were observed. ITF2357 reduced protein levels of BCL-2, MCL-1, and BCL-X, and increased levels of BAK. Exposure to ITF2357 did not abrogate NF-κB DNA binding. After microarray analysis, interleukin-10, interleukin-6, epidermal growth factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), transforming growth factor β, P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, xenobiotic metabolism, PPAR/retinoic acid receptor, NF-κB, apoptosis, lipopolysaccharide/interleukin-1, G-protein receptor, T-cell receptor, and platelet-derived growth factor were the de-regulated pathways.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that ITF2357 influences both proliferation and inflammatory pathways in HL-60 cells; this observation could have possible applications in clinical practice.

Alga-like forms in onverwacht series, South Africa: oldest recognized lifelike forms on Earth

Spheroidal and cupshaped, carbonaceous alga-like bodies, as well as filamentous structures and amorphous carbonaceous matter occur in sedimentary rocks of the Onverwacht Series (Swaziland System) in South Africa. The Onverwacht sediments are older than 3.2 eons, and they are probably the oldest, littlealtered sedimentary rocks on Earth. The basal Onverwacht sediments lie approximately 10,000 meters stratigraphically below the Fig Tree sedimentary rocks, from which similar organic microstructures have been interpreted as alga-like microfossils. The Onverwacht spheroids and filaments are best preserved in black, carbonrich cherts and siliceous argillites interlayered with thick sequences of lavas. These lifelike forms and the associated carbonaceous substances are probably biological in origin. If so, the origins of unicellular life on Earth are buried in older rocks now obliterated by igneous and metamorphic events.

2,5-Dimethylfuran from approximately 2.7 x 10-year-old Rupemba-Belingwe stromatolite, Rhodesia: Potential evidence for remnants of carbohydrates

2,5-Dimethylfuran, 2-methylfuran, and C(9)-C(20)n-alkanes have been isolated from the kerogen of a Rupemba stromatolite. These furans could be the oldest known stable remnants of biological carbohydrates if it is possible to prove that their progenitors are as old as the rock. Experiments showed that it is improbable that these compounds are analytical artifacts or laboratory contaminations. Postdepositional contaminations caused by fluids flowing through the rocks seem doubtful because of minimal permeability, which is supported by petrographic observations. Contamination by diffusion also appears to be unlikely. Because the rock had a mild temperature history, these molecules could have survived since Archean time. Because of all the evidence, the furans and alkanes are quite likely biochemical fossils.

Abiotic, Graphitic Microstructures in Micaceous Metaquartzite about 3760 Million Years Old from Southwestern Greenland: Implications for Early Precambrian Microfossils

An Early Precambrian micaceous metaquartzite subjected to low to moderate metamorphism in the Isua area of Southwestern Greenland was derived from the erosion of preexisting rocks which were probably sialic in composition. This metaquartzite may have been formed before the emergence of life. It contains globular particles of graphite arranged in narrow veins or along foliation or bedding planes. This rock contains no organic compounds besides traces of methane and no biologically significant elements associated with the graphite microstructures. Reaction of primitive methane with ferric oxides appears to have oxidized the methane to the vein graphite and reduced the ferric oxides to ferrous-ferric oxide (magnetite). The graphitic microstructures are likely to be abiotic in origin, although a biological origin is not impossible. Somewhat younger microstructures found in other locations on earth have often been described as microfossils; this origin should be reexamined on the basis of the above mentioned conclusions.

Synergistic antiproliferative effect of arsenic trioxide combined with bortezomib in HL60 cell line and primary blasts from patients affected by myeloproliferative disorders

Both arsenic trioxide (ATO) and bortezomib show separate antileukemic activity. With the purpose of evaluating whether the combination of ATO and bortezomib would be an option for patients with acute leukemia, we incubated HL60 leukemic cells with ATO alone and in combination with bortezomib. ATO and bortezomib cooperated to induce cell death and to inhibit proliferation and apoptosis in a synergistic way. The combined treatment resulted in a stronger activation of caspase 8 and 9, moderate activation of caspase 3, and increased expression of Fas and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-DR5 receptors. When bortezomib was added, some proapoptotic genes (CARD9, TRAIL) were upregulated, and some antiapoptotic genes (BCL2, BCL3, FLICE) were downregulated. When coincubated, approximately 80% of cells showed altered mitochondrial membrane permeability. Moreover, ATO alone and in combination with bortezomib abrogated DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kappaB). Gene expression assays showed that more deregulated genes were related to proliferation of leukocytes, tumorigenesis, control of cell cycle, hypoxia and oxidative stress, cytokines, PI3K-AKT, ERK-MAPK, EGF pathways, and ubiquitination. Finally, in three cases of acute myeloid leukemia, the addition of bortezomib to ATO significantly increased cytotoxicity. We conclude that the combination of bortezomib and ATO may be efficacious in the treatment of myeloid disorders.

Vascular endothelial growth factor polymorphisms in mantle cell lymphoma

In this study, we determined the allele and genotype frequencies of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) G+405C, C-460T, C+936T and C-2578A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 32 patients affected by mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and 58 healthy controls. Real-time PCR combined with melting curve analysis was used for the determination of SNP alleles. A significant difference in the allele frequency of VEGFC-460T and C+936T SNPs in MCL and healthy cases was not observed. On the contrary, VEGF G+405C and C-2578A SNP allele distribution was significantly lower in the patient group than among normal controls (p = 0.014, p = 0.001). This observation suggests that further investigation is warranted, both in vitro and in a larger series of patients, to further examine the role of VEGF polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of MCL. In addition, the use of quantitative real-time PCR combined with a melting curve analysis method in the detection of the 4 VEGF SNPs may have the potential to replace older and more time-consuming PCR-RFLP methods and bears further investigation.

Association between PrP genotypes and selected growth traits of Hungarian Merino and German Mutton Merino rams (Short Communication)

Abstract. In sheep, susceptibility to scrapie is associated with the prion protein (PrP) gene polymorphism. In this study the association between selected growth traits (daily weight gain from birth to weaning and in farm fattening performance test, as well as body weight at one and two years) and PrP genotypes ARR/ARR, ARR/XXX and XXX/XXX (XXX representing AHQ, ARQ, ARH or VRQ) has been investigated in Hungarian Merino (n=286) and German Mutton Merino (n=215) rams. No significant association was found among the studied growth traits and the PrP genotypes in the Hungarian Merino breed. In case of a group of German Mutton Merino rams lamb daily gain was significantly (P≤0.05) – but in a small extent – associated with PrP genotype, which influenced the daily gain values by 9.6 %.