A role for proline synthesis and transport in Listeria monocytogenes barotolerance

Aims: To assess the contribution of proline biosynthesis to listerial barotolerance. Methods and Results: Using a Listeria monocytogenes proBA deletion mutant, incapable of synthesizing proline, together with a proline‐overproducing strain, the contribution of proline synthesis to listerial barotolerance was determined. The ΔproBA strain does not survive as well as the wild type when subjected to treatment of 500 MPa in rich media and 400 MPa in minimal media (c. 1 log lower survival in both conditions). Betaine and carnitine decrease the ability of the wild type to survive at low pressures (300 MPa), but confer normal or slightly increased levels of protection at higher pressures (350 and 400 MPa). Conclusions: A functional proline synthesis system is required for optimal survival of Listeria following treatment at high‐pressure (HP) levels (500 MPa in brain heart infusion and 400 MPa in defined medium), particularly where other compatible solutes are absent or limiting. Significance and Impact of the Study: Given the potential of HP processing as an effective food processing/safety strategy, understanding how pathogens such as Listeria have evolved to cope with such stresses is an important food safety consideration. In this context, the work presented here may help to develop safer and more effective processing regimens.     

精子冷冻保存技术及研究进展

精子冷冻是辅助生殖技术的基础,能够有效的保存有价值的基因资源。文章回顾了近些年来国内外精子冷冻保存的重要研究成果,分析了精子的来源、冷冻预处理、冷冻和解冻方法、防冻剂的选择及其加入去除方式的选择等因素对精子冷冻效果的影响。文章还总结了精子冷冻效果的评价方法,展望精子冷冻技术的发展方向和应用前景。     

两种常绿杜鹃亚属幼苗耐热性的主成分及隶属函数分析

以常绿杜鹃亚属(Rhododendron subgenus Hymenanthes)的井冈山杜鹃(R.jinggangshanicum Tam)、猴头杜鹃(R.simiarum Hance)4年生实生苗为材料,在人工气候箱中模拟高温试验,测定不同温度下叶片的丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢(H2O2)、脯氨酸(Pro)、可溶...     

Juvenile animal studies in the development of pediatric medicines: experience from European medicines and pediatric investigation plans

INTRODUCTION: The need for early consideration of pediatric investigation plans (PIP) to support an indication in pediatric population has led to an increased focus on the relevance of nonclinical studies in juvenile animals (JAS). The usefulness of JAS is not yet established and a criterion for request is still a learning process. OBJECTIVE: This article compares data from JAS in all medicines approved by European centralized procedure before Pediatric Regulation (1995–2005) and data from JAS in the nonclinical information on all approved PIP (2007–2009). RESULTS: Of the 226 substances licensed by centralized procedure in 10 years, 31.9% were considered for children and 31 JAS were described in 9.7%. Since 2007, of the 205 PIP decisions, 50 PIP (24.3%) have 87 JAS planned or requested. The mean number of JAS in each medicine or PIP, increased from 1.4 to 1.7 between the two periods and the juvenile rat remained as the prevalent species. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that JAS planned/performed in EU environment has significantly increased. Birth Defects Res (Part B) 92:353–358, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

转青鱼生长激素基因异源四倍体鲫鲤

生态安全性是转基因鱼走向市场的瓶颈,通过转基因四倍体鱼同转基因二倍体鱼杂交获得不育的转基因三倍体鱼是解决该问题的有效途径之一.本研究构建了青鱼β-actin基因启动子和青鱼生长激素（GH）基因精确连接的＂全鱼＂基因pbcAbcGHc;并采用显微注射法将pbcAbcGHc导入异源四倍体鲫鲤受精卵.对照养殖结果表明,150日龄的转基因异源四倍体鲫鲤原代（P0）的体重及体长明显大于对照组.选择60尾P0代转基因异源四倍体鲫鲤,采用PCR方法检测出外源青鱼GH基因在P0代转基因四倍体尾鳍基因组DNA中的整合率为90%;对20尾雄性P0代转基因四倍体精液样本的PCR检测发现,13个样本具有外源青鱼GH基因的整合.在一尾生长速度显著的P0代转基因四倍体鲫鲤的肌肉、肝脏、肾脏和卵巢组织中可检测到外源青鱼GH基因的转录.本研究成功获得了具有明显生长优势的P0代转青鱼GH基因异源四倍体鲫鲤,为建立转青鱼GH基因异源四倍体鲫鲤纯系和研制不育的转基因三倍体鱼奠定了基础.     

Virosome-formulated Plasmodium falciparum AMA-1 & CSP derived peptides as malaria vaccine: randomized phase 1b trial in semi-immune adults & children

Background

This trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of two virosome formulated malaria peptidomimetics derived from Plasmodium falciparum AMA-1 and CSP in malaria semi-immune adults and children.

Methods

The design was a prospective randomized, double-blind, controlled, age-deescalating study with two immunizations. 10 adults and 40 children (aged 5–9 years) living in a malaria endemic area were immunized with PEV3B or virosomal influenza vaccine Inflexal®V on day 0 and 90.

Results

No serious or severe adverse events (AEs) related to the vaccines were observed. The only local solicited AE reported was pain at injection site, which affected more children in the Inflexal®V group compared to the PEV3B group (p = 0.014). In the PEV3B group, IgG ELISA endpoint titers specific for the AMA-1 and CSP peptide antigens were significantly higher for most time points compared to the Inflexal®V control group. Across all time points after first immunization the average ratio of endpoint titers to baseline values in PEV3B subjects ranged from 4 to 15 in adults and from 4 to 66 in children. As an exploratory outcome, we found that the incidence rate of clinical malaria episodes in children vaccinees was half the rate of the control children between study days 30 and 365 (0.0035 episodes per day at risk for PEV3B vs. 0.0069 for Inflexal®V; RR  = 0.50 [95%-CI: 0.29–0.88], p = 0.02).

Conclusion

These findings provide a strong basis for the further development of multivalent virosomal malaria peptide vaccines.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00513669","term_id":"NCT00513669"}}NCT00513669     

基于大型底栖无脊椎动物群落的上海市河道水质生物学评价

2011年夏秋季,在上海市全境83个河道断面开展了大型底栖无脊椎动物采样,共获取底栖动物20个分类单位(种).9个极严重污染断面未采集到活体大型底栖生物,生境基本丧失.其余74个有活体生物断面,采用三种常用生物指数:Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Hilsenhoff耐污指数、Goodnight修正指数分别进行计算及评价.Shannon-Wiener多样性指数判别为25个严重污染和49个重污染断面;Hilsenhoff耐污指数划分38个重污染、5个中污染和31个轻污染断面;Goodnight修正指数划分33个重污染、2个中污染和39个轻污染断面.与典型河道断面的水质理化指标监测值进行对照,Shannon-Weiner多样性指数对河道水质评价的准确度较低,Hilsenhoff生物指数和Goodnight修正指数的水质评价效率及准确度均较高,断面污染等级与水质理化指标基本对应.     

Postprocessing microflora of commercial attieke (a fermented cassava product) produced in the south of Côte d'Ivoire

The distribution and presence of hygiene indicator and pathogenic micro‐organisms in 375 samples of attieke marketed in Côte d'Ivoire, and their roles in the food poisoning were evaluated. Microbiological analyses were carried out, which included the total viable bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Bacillus spores, fungi and Clostridium perfringens. The results revealed that the viable bacteria counts ranged from 2·2 ± 1·2 × 10⁵ to 3·4 ± 1·4 × 10⁶ CFU g^?1, while the yeasts and the moulds counts ranged, respectively, from 2·4 ± 0·12 × 10⁴ to 9·8 ± 0·4 × 10⁵ CFU g^?1 and 1·3 ± 0·7 × 10¹ to 1·7 ± 0·7 × 10² CFU g^?1. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Citrobacter freundi, Enterobacter amnigenus, Citrobacter youngae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter agglomerans and Klebsiella oxytoca were the bacteria isolated, and Rhizopus spp., Mucor spp., Thamnidium spp., Fusarium spp., Moniliella spp. the fungi. Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella spp. were not found. The occurrence of some bacteria and fungi illustrate that attieke collected in Côte d'Ivoire markets may act as a reservoir of pathogenic micro‐organisms for human.

Significance and Impact of Study

This study demonstrates the great need to carry out microbiological tests frequently on attieke and even more the need to apply correct HACCP system during the production. Attieke is especially a well‐known product in West Africa; hence, it is extremely important to ensure an adequate microbiological quality to guarantee consumers health. Overall, the study highlighted the need for effective communication on microbiological food risks, proper instruction and supervision in food‐handling procedures, greater education on food safety risks.     

Evaluation and Interpretation of the Effects of Environmental Enrichment Utilizing Varying Degrees of Sampling Effort

Documenting the effects of novel forms of enrichment is becoming increasingly important within the field of environmental enrichment. Appropriate documentation and evaluation must accompany any enrichment research project in order for accurate results to be obtained. The objective of the present study was to provide an example of how the level of effort in documenting the effect of enrichment is linked to how it is evaluated. This study was carried out on eight cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) at Fota Wildlife Park, Ireland. Temporal feeding variation was the enrichment type used during this study. Behavior data were collected in five different ways in order to simulate varying degrees of effort. Randomization tests were utilized to analyze behavior data. Significant behavioral differences were observed in the first four sampling methods with patterns of behavior remaining similar in all five methods. However, only the most time intensive method concurred with findings previously published utilizing this form of enrichment. No significant differences in behavior were detected when the least time intensive method was used. Between 1 and 2 hr of data collection daily is necessary to evaluate temporal feeding variation accurately. However, 30–45 min of data collection also gave an insight into the effectiveness of the enrichment. Methods of evaluation can influence the interpretations of the strength of the enriching effect of the treatment. Appropriate evaluation and accurate reporting of enrichment is crucial for the future development of the environmental enrichment field. Zoo Biol 32:262–268, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.