Immune Response of Calves Vaccinated with Brucella abortus S19 or RB51 and Revaccinated with RB51

Brucella abortus S19 and RB51 strains have been successfully used to control bovine brucellosis worldwide; however, currently, most of our understanding of the protective immune response induced by vaccination comes from studies in mice. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the immune responses induced in cattle prime-immunized with B. abortus S19 or RB51 and revaccinated with RB51. Female calves, aged 4 to 8 months, were vaccinated with either vaccine S19 (0.6–1.2 x 10¹¹ CFU) or RB51 (1.3 x 10¹⁰ CFU) on day 0, and revaccinated with RB51 (1.3 x 10¹⁰ CFU) on day 365 of the experiment. Characterization of the immune response was performed using serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 28, 210, 365, 393 and 575 post-immunization. Results showed that S19 and RB51 vaccination induced an immune response characterized by proliferation of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells; IFN-ɣ and IL-17A production by CD4⁺ T-cells; cytotoxic CD8⁺ T-cells; IL-6 secretion; CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ memory cells; antibodies of IgG1 class; and expression of the phenotypes of activation in T-cells. However, the immune response stimulated by S19 compared to RB51 showed higher persistency of IFN-ɣ and CD4⁺ memory cells, induction of CD21⁺ memory cells and higher secretion of IL-6. After RB51 revaccination, the immune response was chiefly characterized by increase in IFN-ɣ expression, proliferation of antigen-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells, cytotoxic CD8⁺ T-cells and decrease of IL-6 production in both groups. Nevertheless, a different polarization of the immune response, CD4⁺- or CD8⁺-dominant, was observed after the booster with RB51 for S19 and RB51 prime-vaccinated animals, respectively. Our results indicate that after prime vaccination both vaccine strains induce a strong and complex Th1 immune response, although after RB51 revaccination the differences between immune profiles induced by prime-vaccination become accentuated.     

Bioinformatics analysis of ubiquitin expression protein gene from Heterodera latipons

Ubiquitin expression protein DNA clone (Hl-UBI) was isolated from Heterodera latipons collected from North Jordan. Its sequence of 285 nucleotides was also determined and deposited in the GeneBank. The 285-bp open reading frame coded for 76-amino acid protein having two domains; the ubiquitin domain and the C terminal extension. The first 59 amino acids were predicted with the ubiquitin domain with identity percentages of 78% to ubiquitin of H. schachtii, 77% to polyubiquitin of Globodera pallida, 74% to ubiquitin of Globodera rostochiensis and 72% to ubiquitin of Heterodera glycines. The other domain at the C-terminus, containing 17 amino acids, showed no homology to any known protein. Sequence analysis showed a calculated encoding amino acids molecular weight of 8.77 kDa, theoretical isoelectric point = 4.76, negatively charged residues = 12, positively charged residues = 9, extinction coefficient = 1490, estimated half-life = 30 h, instability index = 32.51 and grand average of hydropathicity = ?0.537. The demonstrated subcellular localization analysis of cytoplasm, cell nucleus, mitochondrion, cell skeleton and plasma membrane of Hl-UBI protein occupied about 52.20, 21.70, 17.40, 4.30 and 4.30%, respectively. Sequence, homology and structural analysis confirmed that Hl-UBI gene was highly conserved during evolution and belonged to ubiquitin gene family.     

Study on the physiology of diapause, cold hardiness and supercooling point of overwintering pupae of the pistachio fruit hull borer, Arimania comaroffi

The pistachio fruit hull borer, Arimania comaroffi (Ragonot) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a key pest of pistachio orchards in Iran. This pest passes the winter as diapausing pupae. In this study, some physiological changes in relation to environmental temperature were investigated in field collected pupae. The relationship between supercooling point, cold hardiness and physiological changes of a wild population of this pest was also investigated. The glycogen content decreased with decrease in environmental temperature. Decrease in glycogen content was proportional to increase in total body sugar, trehalose, myo-inositol and sorbitol contents. In January with mean ambient temperature of 5.4°C, glycogen (5 mg/g fresh body weight) content was at the lowest level whereas total body sugar (10.3 mg/g fresh body weight), trehalose (8.6 mg/g fresh body weight), myo-inositol (5.3 mg/g fresh body weight) and sorbitol (2.6 mg/g fresh body weight) were at the highest levels. Total body sugar, trehalose, myo-inositol and sorbitol contents increased as mean temperature decreased from 22.7°C in October to 5.4°C in January. Total body lipid decreased during overwintering and reached to the lowest level at the end of March. Supercooling points were decreased from October to January and reached to the lowest level (-16°C) in January with minimum ambient temperature of -10°C. Survival at low temperature after 24 h was also greatest in January with 72% survival at -10°C, 39% survival at -15°C and 0% survival at -20°C. Increase in temperature from February onward, was proportional with increase in supercooling points and decrease in survival rate. Regardless of sampling date, all pupae died after 24 h at -20°C, whereas none pupae died after 24 h at -5°C. This indicates that this insect is freeze-intolerant.     

Mathematical modeling and study of mass transfer parameters in supercritical fluid extraction of fatty acids from Trout powder

Mathematical modeling of fatty acids (FAs) extraction from Trout powder by supercritical carbon dioxide was performed in the present work. Trout powder with its low cost contains high amount of essential FAs and it is commonly available as a proper source of FAs. The effect of process parameters, such as pressure (25, 28, 31, 34 and 37 MPa) and temperature (310, 318 and 326 K) of extraction and void fraction of the bed (0.25, 0.35 and 0.45, v/v) on the yield of FAs extraction was examined in a series of experiments conducted in a laboratory scale apparatus. The results indicated a significant increase of extraction yield with an increase of pressure from 25 to 34 MPa, but working at the higher pressure (37 MPa) caused reduction of the extract. Increasing the temperature higher than 318 K revealed significant reduction of the FAs yield and increasing the bed void fraction from 0.25 to 0.45 showed enhancement of the extraction.

The mathematical model was developed considering diffusion-controlled regime in the particle and film mass transfer resistance around the particle with axial dispersion of the bulk phase at dynamic conditions. Henry law was used to describe the equilibrium state of solid and fluid phases. The proposed mass balance equations were numerically solved using implicit finite difference method and the model parameters were correlated using the experimental results of the outlet FAs concentration in the oil extracted at dynamic conditions. Well-known Nelder–Mead method was applied to estimate the four parameters of the model, namely, mass transfer coefficient (k_f), axial dispersion coefficient (D_ax) in the bulk phase, effective diffusivity (D_eff) into the pores and Henry coefficient (H). In the range of studied conditions, the higher extraction efficiency with higher pressure resulted lower correlated H, although the temperature increasing which showed a retrograde phenomena in the FAs yield, revealed H passing though a minimum.     

Hydrogen-halide versus alkyl-halide oxidative addition in dimethyl platinum(II) complexes: Crystal structure of [PtBr2(bpy)]

Dimethyl platinum(II) complexes [PtMe₂(NN)] {NN = bu₂bpy (4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine) (1a), bpy (2,2′-bipyridine) (1b), phen (1,10-phenanthroline) (1c)} reacted with commercial 3-bromo-1-propanol in the presence of 1,3-propylene oxide to afford cis, trans- [PtBrMe₂{(CH₂)₃OH}(NN)] (NN = bu₂bpy (2a), bpy (2b), phen (2c)). On the other hand, [PtMe₂(NN)] (1a)-(1b) reacted with the trace of HBr in commercial 3-bromo-1-propanol to give [PtBr₂(NN)] (NN = bu₂bpy (3a), bpy (3b)). The reaction pathways were monitored by ¹H NMR at various temperatures. Treatment of 1a-1b with a large excess of 3-bromo-1-propanol at −80 °C gave the corresponding methyl(hydrido)platinum(IV) complexes [PtBr(H)Me₂(NN)] (NN = bu₂bpy (4a), bpy (4b)) via the oxidative addition of dimethyl platinum(II) complexes with HBr. The complexes [PtBr(H)Me₂(NN)] decomposed by reductive elimination of methane above −20 °C for bu₂bpy and from −20 to 0 °C for bpy analogue to give methane and platinum(II) complexes [PtBrMe(NN)] (5a)-(5b) and then decomposed at about 0 °C to yield [PtBr₂(NN)] and methane. When the reactions were performed at a molar ratio of Pt:RX/1:10, the corresponding complexes [PtBrMe(NN)] (5a)-(5b) were also obtained. The crystal structure of the complex 3b shows that platinum adopts square planar geometry with a twofold axis through the platinum atom. The Pt…Pt distance (5.164 Å) is considerably larger than the interplanar spacing (3.400 Å) and there is no platinum-platinum interaction.     

Physiological evaluation of drought stress tolerance and recovery in Verbascum sinuatum plants treated with methyl jasmonate,salicylic acid and titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Abstract

The genus Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) includes medicinal plants, which have several bioactive compounds especially saponins. The possible recovery ability of Verbascum sinuatum from drought stress conditions was assessed by using salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MJA) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) as plant growth regulators (PGRs) in liquid culture media. Thirty days-old plants were exposed to different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) for creating artificial drought conditions (0, ?0.3, and ?0.6?MPa osmotic potential) and also treated with 200?µM methyl jasmonate (MJA), 100?µM salicylic acid (SA) and 20?ppm TiO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs). Results showed that the growth parameters and the content of photosynthetic pigments decreased at higher drought level (?0.6?MPa). However, SA and TiO₂NPs alleviated the adverse effects of drought stress by increasing water stress tolerance through promotion of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant defense systems. MJA negatively affected the growth parameters and increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and total saponin and also the activity of peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Based on the results obtained from this study, the recovery treatments mainly affected the defense-related metabolism in Verbasum sinuatum plants.     

Accumulation of Glucosylceramide in the Absence of the Beta-Glucosidase GBA2 Alters Cytoskeletal Dynamics

Glycosphingolipids are key elements of cellular membranes, thereby, controlling a variety of cellular functions. Accumulation of the simple glycosphingolipid glucosylceramide results in life-threatening lipid storage-diseases or in male infertility. How glucosylceramide regulates cellular processes is ill defined. Here, we reveal that glucosylceramide accumulation in GBA2 knockout-mice alters cytoskeletal dynamics due to a more ordered lipid organization in the plasma membrane. In dermal fibroblasts, accumulation of glucosylceramide augments actin polymerization and promotes microtubules persistence, resulting in a higher number of filopodia and lamellipodia and longer microtubules. Similar cytoskeletal defects were observed in male germ and Sertoli cells from GBA2 knockout-mice. In particular, the organization of F-actin structures in the ectoplasmic specialization and microtubules in the sperm manchette is affected. Thus, glucosylceramide regulates cytoskeletal dynamics, providing mechanistic insights into how glucosylceramide controls signaling pathways not only during sperm development, but also in other cell types.     

Toxic effects of pyriproxyfen,neemarin, acetamiprid and Ferula assafoetida essential oil on the common pistachio psylla,Agonoscena pistaciae

The common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae, Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is the key pest of pistachio orchards in Iran. Chemical control is the common method for the control of this pest. In this study, the effects of pyriproxyfen (an insect growth regulator), neemarin (a botanical insecticide), acetamiprid (a neonicotinoid) and Ferula assafoetida essential oil were investigated on the fifth instar nymphs of A. pistaciae. Probit analysis of concentration-mortality data was conducted to estimate the LC₅₀ values. The LC₅₀ values for neemarin, pyriproxyfen, acetamiprid and F. assafoetida essential oil were estimated to be 0.22, 0.52, 290 and 5.62 ppm, respectively. Our results showed that the fifth instar nymphs of A. pistaciae are very sensitive to neemarin and pyriproxyfen.