Expression of keratins, epidermal proteins and inflammatory cells in superficial pemphigus dogs

Superficial pemphigus in dogs is an autoimmune skin disorder. The disease is characterised by the binding of auto-antibodies to desmosomal molecules including desmocollin-1, a major auto-antigen in dogs. However, data on the expression of epidermal proteins in dogs are still limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the keratins and epidermal proteins in dogs with superficial pemphigus using immunohistochemistry. Skin biopsies were performed on dogs with pemphigus foliaceus (n=10), pan-epidermal pustular pemphigus (n=4) and pemphigus erythematosus (n=1). Immunostaining for keratin 5 and keratin 10 showed a premature and discontinuous pattern in the suprabasal layers of all pemphigus skin samples compared to the control group (P<0.05). Filaggrin, desmocollin-1 and claudin-1, but not involucrin, were significantly reduced (P<0.05). Inflammatory cells markedly infiltrated in the dermis and the lower epidermis of all pemphigus skins. This is the first report that associates changes in the expression of keratin 5, keratin 10, filaggrin and claudin-1 with reduced desmocollin-1 expression and subsequent loss of the epidermal barrier in superficial pemphigus

Beak and feather disease virus in wild and captive parrots: an analysis of geographic and taxonomic distribution and methodological trends

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) has emerged in recent years as a major threat to wild parrot populations and is an increasing concern to aviculturists and managers of captive populations. Pathological and serological tests for screening for the presence of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) are a critical component of efforts to manage the disease and of epidemiological studies. Since the disease was first reported in the mid-1970s, screening for BFDV has been conducted in numerous wild and captive populations. However, at present, there is no current and readily accessible synthesis of screening efforts and their results. Here, we consolidate information collected from 83 PBFD- and BFDV-based publications on the primary screening methods being used and identify important knowledge gaps regarding potential global disease hotspots. We present trends in research intensity in this field and critically discuss advances in screening techniques and their applications to both aviculture and to the management of threatened wild populations. Finally, we provide an overview of estimates of BFDV prevalence in captive and wild flocks alongside a complete list of all psittacine species in which the virus has been confirmed. Our evaluation highlights the need for standardised diagnostic tests and more emphasis on studies of wild populations, particularly in view of the intrinsic connection between global trade in companion birds and the spread of novel BFDV strains into wild populations. Increased emphasis should be placed on the screening of captive and wild parrot populations within their countries of origin across the Americas, Africa and Asia

Kaempferia parviflora Extracellular Vesicle Loaded with Clarithromycin for the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Variya Nemidkanam,1 Wijit Banlunara,2 Nuntaree Chaichanawongsaroj3 1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Graduate Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; 2Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; 3Department of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Microbiology, Research Unit of Innovative Diagnosis of Antimicrobial Resistance, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, ThailandCorrespondence: Nuntaree Chaichanawongsaroj, Department of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Microbiology, Research Unit of Innovative Diagnosis of Antimicrobial Resistance, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand, Tel +66 838199988, Email [email protected]: Kaempferia parviflora extracellular vesicles (KPEVs) have been reported as promising nanovesicles for drug delivery. This study aimed to load clarithromycin (CLA) into KPEVs (KPEVS-CLA) and determine the physical properties, drug-releasing efficiency, gastric cell uptake, anti-H. pylori activities, and anti-inflammatory responses in comparison with free CLA and KPEVs.Methods: The size and surface charge of KPEVs-CLA were evaluated using dynamic light scattering and visualized using a transmission electron microscope. The encapsulation efficiency (EE%), loading capacity (LC%), and drug release of KPEVs-CLA were examined using HPLC. Anti-H. pylori growth and anti-adhesion were evaluated. IL-8 gene expression, NF-κB signaling proteins, and anti-inflammatory profiles were examined using qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and Bio-Plex immunoassay, respectively. Anti-chemotaxis was then examined using a Transwell assay.Results: KPEVs-CLA were intact and showed a negative surface charge similar to that of KPEVs. However, slightly enlarged KPEVs were observed. CLA was successfully loaded into KPEVs with EE of 93.45% ± 2.43%, LC of 9.3% ± 3.02%. CLA release in the PBS and gastric mimic buffer with Fickian diffusion (n ≤ 0.43) according to Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model (R2=0.98). KPEVs-CLA was localized in the gastric cells’ cytoplasm and perinuclear region. Anti-H. pylori growth and anti-H. pylori adhesion of KPEVs-CLA were compared with those of free CLA with no cytotoxicity to adenocarcinoma gastric cells. KPEVs-CLA significantly reduced IL-8, G-CSF, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β levels. Moreover, KPEVs-CLA showed a superior effect over CLA in reducing G-CSF, MIP-1α, and NF-κB phosphorylation and monocyte chemotactic activities.Conclusion: KPEVs serve as potential carriers of CLA. They exhibited a higher efficiency in inhibiting gastric cell inflammation mediated by H. pylori infection than free CLA. The establishment of KPEVs-CLA as a nanodrug delivery model for H. pylori treatment could be applied to other plant extracellular vesicles or loaded with other cancer drugs for gastric cancer treatment.Keywords: extracellular vesicle, clarithromycin, Kaempferia parviflora, Helicobacter pylori, inflammatio

Proretinal nanoparticles: stability, release, efficacy, and irritation

Pimolphan Pisetpackdeekul,1 Piyapan Supmuang,2 Porntip Pan-In,3 Wijit Banlunara,4,* Benchaphorn Limcharoen,4 Chayada Kokpol,5,* Supason Wanichwecharungruang3,6,* 1Program in Technopreneurship and Innovation Management, Graduate School, 2Program in Biotechnology, 3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, 4Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, 5Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, 6Nanotec-Chulalongkorn University Center of Excellence on Food and Agriculture, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand *These authors contributed equally to&nbsp;this work Abstract: Despite many potent biological activities, retinoids such as retinoic acid (RA) and retinal possess dose-related broad side effects. In this study, we show that this problem, which has been unsolvable for a long time, can be tackled through a controlled release strategy in which retinal is continuously delivered to the skin via sustained release from proretinal nanoparticles. The water dispersible proretinal nanoparticles are stable when kept in water at neutral pH and at room temperature for 8 months under light-proof conditions, and show sustained release of retinal into human synthetic sebum at a pH of 5. In the daily topical application tests performed for 4 weeks on rats&rsquo; skin, the nanoparticles showed superior ability to increase epidermal thickness compared to RA and retinal, with no skin irritation observed for the proretinal particles, but severe skin irritation observed for RA and free retinal. When tested under occlusion conditions in human volunteers, insignificant skin irritation was observed for the proretinal nanoparticles. The 12-week, double-blind, split-face study on human volunteers indicates better antiaging efficacy of the particles as compared to the free RA. Keywords: antiaging, sebum, release, drug delivery, ski

Faecal excretion of intestinal spirochaetes by urban dogs, and their pathogenicity in a chick model of intestinal spirochaetosis

This study aimed to obtain information about the types of spirochaetes colonising urban dogs in Thailand, and to investigate their pathogenic potential in a day-old chick model of intestinal spirochaetosis. Spirochaetes were isolated from the faeces of six of 47 (12.8%) healthy dogs and 11 of 104 (10.6%) dogs with diarrhoea. Their biochemical properties and 16S ribosomal DNA sequences were analysed. Four isolates were identified as Brachyspira pilosicoli, three resembled "Brachyspira pulli", nine clustered with "Brachyspira canis" and one was similar to Brachyspira intermedia. Canine isolates of B. pilosicoli, "B. canis" and "B. pulli", and control strains of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, B. pilosicoli and Brachyspira innocens colonised experimentally infected day-old chicks. The chicks did not develop diarrhoea, but were significantly lighter than the non-infected group and those infected with B. innocens after 21. days (P< 0.05). Using immunohistochemistry, spirochaetes were observed covering the surface epithelium and in the crypts of chicks in all three groups challenged with the canine isolates. Variable histopathological changes were seen, with the greatest inflammatory cell infiltration into the lamina propria occurring in the group infected with "B. pulli" Canine "B. canis", "B. pulli" and B. pilosicoli isolates may have pathogenic potential