Bovine Endometrial Stromal Cells Support Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-Induced Bovine Herpesvirus Type 4 Enhanced Replication

Bovine uterine infections are the most important cause of economic losses in the cattle industry. Although the etiology of uterine diseases is mainly ascribed to bacterial infection, they can also be associated with viral infection, such as bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4), which is often a secondary agent following bacteria. Besides microbial infection, many inflammatory molecules belonging to the innate immune response orchestrate the outcome of the infection. In the present study, the interaction between BoHV-4-infected bovine endometrial stromal cells and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was investigated. Bovine herpesvirus 4 possesses a special tropism toward endometrial stromal cells. For this reason, a simian virus 40 (SV40) immortalized endometrial stromal cell line (SV40BESC) was established; it was proven that it was stable, it expressed toll-like receptors (TLRs; from 1 to 10) and TNFalpha receptors I and II, and it was responsive to exogenous TNF-alpha. Further, an increase of BoHV-4 replication and cytopathic effect was observed in BoHV-4-infected and TNFalpha- treated SV40BESCs. This increase of viral replication was associated with BoHV-4 immediate early 2 (IE2) gene promoter trans-activation through the interaction of the nuclear factor KB (NFKB) with the putative NFKB-responsive elements found within BoHV-4 IE2 gene promoter, and this interaction was abolished when NFKB-responsive elements were deleted. These data shed light on two important and rather controversial issues: the role of TNF-alpha receptor, which is weakly expressed in the stromal layer of the bovine uterus, as well as the possible interactions between proinflammatory molecules, viral replication, and chronic uterine disease

Insights into teichoic acid biosynthesis by Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010

Bifidobacteria are colonizers of the human gut, where they are interacting with their host as well as with other members of the intestinal microbiota. Teichoic acids (TAs) have previously been shown to play an important role in modulating microbe-host interactions in the human gut. However, so far, there is a paucity of information regarding the presence of TAs in the cell envelope of bifidobacteria. In silico analyses targeting the chromosomes of all 48 (sub)species that currently represent the genus Bifidobacterium revealed the presence of genes responsible for TA biosynthesis, suggesting that bifidobacteria contain both wall TAs and lipoteichoic acids. Transcriptome analyses of the infant gut commensal Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010 highlighted that the transcription of the presumptive TA biosynthetic loci is modulated in response to environmental conditions reflecting those of the human gut. Furthermore, chemical characterization of TAs produced by PRL2010 indicates the presence of lipoteichoic acids

Evaluation of antibacterial activity of copper-based nanomaterials for food packaging applications

The antibacterial activity of a novel nanocomposite film based on polylactic acid film coated by a sol-gel processing with copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) at different concentrations (0-0.5-1-10-100-500-1000-2000 ppm) was tested against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a pathogenic bacterium frequently associated with human salmonellosis outbreaks related to the consumption of contaminated pig meat and products thereof. Antibacterial activity was determined quantitatively using a viable cell count method. The film coated with the sol containing Cu NPs at 500 ppm provided a significant bacterial reduction (1.38±0.55 log cfu/cm2; P<0.05). Data of copper release from the nanocomposite film were matched with bioactivity test

Molecular characterization methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus isolated from the pig production chain in northern Italy

This study aimed to evaluate the molecular characteristics of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated in the swine chain in Northern Italy. A sample of 50 fattening units located in Lombardy was selected. Five cutaneous samples at slaughtering and three environmental samples at farm were collected from each unit giving a total of 250 and 150 samples, respectively. A total of 25 MRSA isolates were isolated from 400 samples, in 17 different fattening units. At farm, 12 out of 250 samples were positive for MRSA (4, 8 %), and 13 out of 150 samples at slaughter were identified as MRSA (8, 7 %), giving an overall incidence among samples of 6, 25 % (n = 25). Molecular characterization was carried out using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and spa-typing. Outcomes showed that most of the isolates belonged to ST398, carrying spa-types t899, t011, t18498, t1939, t1200, and t304. Nonetheless, three isolates were identified as ST97 (t1730 and t4795), and one as ST30, showing spa-type t318. Furthermore, a novel ST was identified, namely 5422, showing spa-type t1730. Heterogeneity in genotypes within the same farm was also found in different fattening units, with concern for the possibility of the exchange of genetic determinants among different lineages. Genetic diversity among MRSA isolates in pig fattening units has been observed, highlighting the possibility that some isolates could be able to infect different hosts, including human