In Vitro Evaluation of the Antiviral Potential of Guettarda angelica Against Animal Herpesviruses

Background: The number of antiviral studies using plant extracts has increased in the last decades, and the results have shown that plants are potential sources of compounds that are able to inhibit and/or decrease viral infections. The selection of these plants by ethnopharmacological criteria increases the probability of finding new substances with significant pharmacological and biological activities. Hence, Brazil has an advantage in this area due to its extensive biodiversity and ethnological diversity. Guettarda angelica is a plant from the Brazilian Caatinga region the roots of which are popularly used for various therapeutic purposes, including veterinary use. The aim of this work was to investigate the in vitro antiviral activity of extracts of plant parts from G. angelica against three animal herpesviruses: bovine (BoHV-1), suid (SuHV-1) and equine (EHV-1) herpesviruses type 1. Materials, Methods & Results: The extracts of roots, leaves and seeds of G. angelica were initially screened for in vitro antiviral activity against these herpesviruses using the virus yield reduction assay. The MDBK cells were used in assays with BoHV-1 and SuHV-1, and the Vero cells with EHV-1. For these assays, the cells previously treated with the extracts in non-cytotoxic concentrations were inoculated with logarithmic dilutions of each virus, The viral inhibitory activity of extracts was calculated by difference of virus titer between treated infected cells and non-treated infected cells. Only the aqueous extract from seeds (AEs) showed a significant antiviral activity (P < 0.01, ANOVA followed by Tukey test) against all herpesviruses leading continuous studies, Thus, the selectivity index (SI) of this extract was determined by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] colorimetric assay by calculating the ratio CC(50)over IC50. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) was defined as the extract concentration that reduced the cell viability by 50% when compared to untreated controls; the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was defined as the concentration of the extract that inhibited 50% of viral replication when compared to the virus control. The CC50 and IC50 obtained from nonlinear regression analysis of concentration-effect curves by the GraphPad Prism 5 Demo program and represented the means +/- standard deviation of three independent experiments. The CC5(0) for Vero cells was 400.60 +/- 0.20 mu g/mL, while the CC50 for MDBK cells was 920.50 +/- 0.19 mu g/mL. The IC50 values of the AEs on the BoHV-1, SuHV-1 and EHV-1 were 22.79 mu g/mL, 91.30 mu g/mL and 19.95 mu g/mL, respectively. The SI values of this extract for each virus obtained from these data were 40.39, 10.08 and 20.08 for BoHV-1, SuHV-1, and EHV-1, respectively. Discussion: To ensure the antiviral activity of a plant extract and consequently its future use as antiviral agent is crucial the obtainment of its selectivity index or safety index. It is guarantee of a true antiviral effect and not the result of cytotoxicity of the extract on cells, and that could be confused with an antiviral activity. Other important point are the extract IC50 values less than 100 mu g/mL. The results of the AEs of G. angelica are in accordance with these considerations indicating that the Go angelica seeds may be a potential source of antiviral compounds insurance and encouraging further investigation of them.40

European consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD: The European Network Adult ADHD.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood that persists into adulthood in the majority of cases. The evidence on persistence poses several difficulties for adult psychiatry considering the lack of expertise for diagnostic assessment, limited treatment options and patient facilities across Europe. METHODS: The European Network Adult ADHD, founded in 2003, aims to increase awareness of this disorder and improve knowledge and patient care for adults with ADHD across Europe. This Consensus Statement is one of the actions taken by the European Network Adult ADHD in order to support the clinician with research evidence and clinical experience from 18 European countries in which ADHD in adults is recognised and treated. RESULTS: Besides information on the genetics and neurobiology of ADHD, three major questions are addressed in this statement: (1) What is the clinical picture of ADHD in adults? (2) How can ADHD in adults be properly diagnosed? (3) How should ADHD in adults be effectively treated? CONCLUSIONS: ADHD often presents as an impairing lifelong condition in adults, yet it is currently underdiagnosed and treated in many European countries, leading to ineffective treatment and higher costs of illness. Expertise in diagnostic assessment and treatment of ADHD in adults must increase in psychiatry. Instruments for screening and diagnosis of ADHD in adults are available and appropriate treatments exist, although more research is needed in this age group

Single-dose administration and the influence of the timing of the booster dose on immunogenicity and efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine: a pooled analysis of four randomised trials.

BACKGROUND: The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine has been approved for emergency use by the UK regulatory authority, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, with a regimen of two standard doses given with an interval of 4-12 weeks. The planned roll-out in the UK will involve vaccinating people in high-risk categories with their first dose immediately, and delivering the second dose 12 weeks later. Here, we provide both a further prespecified pooled analysis of trials of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and exploratory analyses of the impact on immunogenicity and efficacy of extending the interval between priming and booster doses. In addition, we show the immunogenicity and protection afforded by the first dose, before a booster dose has been offered. METHODS: We present data from three single-blind randomised controlled trials-one phase 1/2 study in the UK (COV001), one phase 2/3 study in the UK (COV002), and a phase 3 study in Brazil (COV003)-and one double-blind phase 1/2 study in South Africa (COV005). As previously described, individuals 18 years and older were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive two standard doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (5 × 1010 viral particles) or a control vaccine or saline placebo. In the UK trial, a subset of participants received a lower dose (2·2 × 1010 viral particles) of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 for the first dose. The primary outcome was virologically confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 disease, defined as a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)-positive swab combined with at least one qualifying symptom (fever ≥37·8°C, cough, shortness of breath, or anosmia or ageusia) more than 14 days after the second dose. Secondary efficacy analyses included cases occuring at least 22 days after the first dose. Antibody responses measured by immunoassay and by pseudovirus neutralisation were exploratory outcomes. All cases of COVID-19 with a NAAT-positive swab were adjudicated for inclusion in the analysis by a masked independent endpoint review committee. The primary analysis included all participants who were SARS-CoV-2 N protein seronegative at baseline, had had at least 14 days of follow-up after the second dose, and had no evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection from NAAT swabs. Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose. The four trials are registered at ISRCTN89951424 (COV003) and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606 (COV001), NCT04400838 (COV002), and NCT04444674 (COV005). FINDINGS: Between April 23 and Dec 6, 2020, 24 422 participants were recruited and vaccinated across the four studies, of whom 17 178 were included in the primary analysis (8597 receiving ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and 8581 receiving control vaccine). The data cutoff for these analyses was Dec 7, 2020. 332 NAAT-positive infections met the primary endpoint of symptomatic infection more than 14 days after the second dose. Overall vaccine efficacy more than 14 days after the second dose was 66·7% (95% CI 57·4-74·0), with 84 (1·0%) cases in the 8597 participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 248 (2·9%) in the 8581 participants in the control group. There were no hospital admissions for COVID-19 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group after the initial 21-day exclusion period, and 15 in the control group. 108 (0·9%) of 12 282 participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 127 (1·1%) of 11 962 participants in the control group had serious adverse events. There were seven deaths considered unrelated to vaccination (two in the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 group and five in the control group), including one COVID-19-related death in one participant in the control group. Exploratory analyses showed that vaccine efficacy after a single standard dose of vaccine from day 22 to day 90 after vaccination was 76·0% (59·3-85·9). Our modelling analysis indicated that protection did not wane during this initial 3-month period. Similarly, antibody levels were maintained during this period with minimal waning by day 90 (geometric mean ratio [GMR] 0·66 [95% CI 0·59-0·74]). In the participants who received two standard doses, after the second dose, efficacy was higher in those with a longer prime-boost interval (vaccine efficacy 81·3% [95% CI 60·3-91·2] at ≥12 weeks) than in those with a short interval (vaccine efficacy 55·1% [33·0-69·9] at <6 weeks). These observations are supported by immunogenicity data that showed binding antibody responses more than two-fold higher after an interval of 12 or more weeks compared with an interval of less than 6 weeks in those who were aged 18-55 years (GMR 2·32 [2·01-2·68]). INTERPRETATION: The results of this primary analysis of two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 were consistent with those seen in the interim analysis of the trials and confirm that the vaccine is efficacious, with results varying by dose interval in exploratory analyses. A 3-month dose interval might have advantages over a programme with a short dose interval for roll-out of a pandemic vaccine to protect the largest number of individuals in the population as early as possible when supplies are scarce, while also improving protection after receiving a second dose. FUNDING: UK Research and Innovation, National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR), The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lemann Foundation, Rede D'Or, the Brava and Telles Foundation, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Thames Valley and South Midland's NIHR Clinical Research Network, and AstraZeneca

Virulence factors of avian Escherichia coli associated with swollen head syndrome

Virulence characteristics of 50 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from chickens with swollen head syndrome were examined. The results were the following: in the absence of D-mannose, 74% of strains agglutinated guinea pig erythrocytes, but in the presence of D-mannose 32% agglutinated guinea-pig erythrocytes and 62% agglutinated human erythrocytes. when slide agglutination assays were carried out with antisera to adhesin of bovine and swine origin (K88, K99, F41, F42 987P and 2134P), only 14% of strains agglutinated with antiserum to F41. Colicin V was produced by 78% of the E. coli strains and 80% produced aerobactin. In the serum resistance test, 36 (72%) of strains showed resistance to normal chicken serum. Only seven (14%) strains expressed K1 capsular antigen, while motility was found in 62% of the strains.27214815

AN AGAR-OVERLAY METHOD FOR DETECTION OF TOXINS PRODUCED BY ESCHERICHIA-COLI

An agar overlay method, with Vero and HeLa cells, was used for detection of heat-labile enterotoxin and verotoxin from Escherichia coil. The method is more sensitive than the conventional cell culture assay, is rapid, easy to perform, and is suitable for epidemiological studies.120330330

Molecular characterization of Brazilian avian pneumovirus isolates: comparison between immunochemiluminescent Southern blot and nested PCR

Avian pneumovirus (APV) causes acute respiratory tract infection both in turkeys (turkey rhinotracheitis) and chickens (swollen head syndrome (SHS)) with sudden onset and rapid spread through the flocks. In this study, an immunochemiluminescent Southern blot RT-PCR assay was employed to detect a F gene transcript of the APV in two European turkey isolates and two Brazilian chicken isolates. Limiting dilution PCR was carried out to compare the sensitivity of immunochemiluminescent Southern blot assay and nested PCR assay (nPCR). The sensitivity and specificity of immunochemiluminescent Southern blot RT-PCR assay were comparable to that of nPCR, and at least 100 fold more sensitive than a single PCR amplification. Sequence analysis of the 175 bp product of the F gene revealed 100% identity with APV sequences described earlier. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.79223724

Molecular characterization of Brazilian avian pneumovirus isolates using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, restriction endonuclease analysis and sequencing of a G gene fragment

A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was employed to amplify a G gene transcript of the avian pneumovirus (APV) in two European turkey isolates and two Brazilian chicken isolates. The PCR products were digested using restriction endonucleases and the restriction patterns were compared with earlier reported isolate patterns. The same PCR products were cloned into pUC18 and sequenced. Restriction patterns and sequence analyses of the approximately 600 bp products from both Brazilian isolates revealed 99% identity with earlier reported subgroup A APV sequence, suggesting that these isolates belong to this subgroup.28547347

Production of monoclonal antibodies for Avian Metapneumovirus (SHS-BR-121) isolated in Brazil

Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV), also called Turkey Rhinotracheitis Virus (TRTV), is an upper respiratory tract infection of turkeys, chickens and other avian species. Five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were created against the Brazilian isolate (SHS-BR-121) of aMPV, MAbs 1A5B8; 1C1C4; 2C2E9 and 2A4C3 of IgG1 and MAb 1C1F8 of IgG2a. Four Mabs (1A5B8; 1C1C4; 2C2E9 and 2A4C3) showed neutralizing activity and three (1A5B8; 1C1C4 and 2A4C3) inhibited cellular fusion in vitro. These MAbs were used to investigate antigenic relationship among three strains (SHS-BR-121, STG 854/88 and TRT 1439/91) of aMPV subtypes A and B using cross-neutralization test. The results confirm that the monoclonal antibodies described can be used as a valuable tool in the epizootiological and serological studies, and also for the specific diagnosis of the subtypes in the infection for Avian Metapneumovirus.255258Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Susceptibility of different cell lines to infection with bovine respiratory syncytial virus

The growth of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) was evaluated in six different cell lines. Chicken embryo related cells (CER), a chicken embryo fibroblast/baby hamster kidney hybrid and bovine CRIB cells (a bovine viral diarrhea virus-resistant clone of MDBK cells) showed to be the most appropriate for virus multiplication. Both cells provided infectious virus titres of Up to 10(5.5) 50% tissue culture infective doses per 100 mu l (TCID50/100 mu l). One-step growth curves revealed no significant differences in the growth of BRSV in these two cell lines. Furthermore, they proved to be susceptible to infection with three different BRSV strains. It was concluded that both CER and CRIB cells may be used for laboratory multiplication of BRSV with optimal results. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.131213013