Phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives to promote growth and enhance host health

There are heightened concerns globally on emerging drug-resistant superbugs and the lack of new antibiotics for treating human and animal diseases. For the agricultural industry, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to replace antibiotics for food-producing animals, especially poultry and livestock. The 2nd International Symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics was held at the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris, France, December 12-15, 2016 to discuss recent scientific developments on strategic antibiotic-free management plans, to evaluate regional differences in policies regarding the reduction of antibiotics in animal agriculture and to develop antibiotic alternatives to combat the global increase in antibiotic resistance. More than 270 participants from academia, government research institutions, regulatory agencies, and private animal industries from >25 different countries came together to discuss recent research and promising novel technologies that could provide alternatives to antibiotics for use in animal health and production; assess challenges associated with their commercialization; and devise actionable strategies to facilitate the development of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) without hampering animal production. The 3-day meeting consisted of four scientific sessions including vaccines, microbial products, phytochemicals, immune-related products, and innovative drugs, chemicals and enzymes, followed by the last session on regulation and funding. Each session was followed by an expert panel discussion that included industry representatives and session speakers. The session on phytochemicals included talks describing recent research achievements, with examples of successful agricultural use of various phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives and their mode of action in major agricultural animals (poultry, swine and ruminants). Scientists from industry and academia and government research institutes shared their experience in developing and applying potential antibiotic-alternative phytochemicals commercially to reduce AGPs and to develop a sustainable animal production system in the absence of antibiotics.Fil: Lillehoj, Hyun. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Liu, Yanhong. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Calsamiglia, Sergio. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Fernandez Miyakawa, Mariano Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Chi, Fang. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Cravens, Ron L.. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Oh, Sungtaek. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Gay, Cyril G.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; Argentin

Cellular Immune Responses to Nine Mycobacterium tuberculosis Vaccine Candidates following Intranasal Vaccination

BACKGROUND: The identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccines that elicit a protective immune response in the lungs is important for the development of an effective vaccine against tuberculosis. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, a comparison of intranasal (i.n.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) vaccination with the BCG vaccine demonstrated that a single moderate dose delivered intranasally induced a stronger and sustained M. tuberculosis-specific T-cell response in lung parenchyma and cervical lymph nodes of BALB/c mice than vaccine delivered subcutaneously. Both BCG and a multicomponent subunit vaccine composed of nine M. tuberculosis recombinant proteins induced strong antigen-specific T-cell responses in various local and peripheral immune compartments. Among the nine recombinant proteins evaluated, the alanine proline rich antigen (Apa, Rv1860) was highly antigenic following i.n. BCG and immunogenic after vaccination with a combination of the nine recombinant antigens. The Apa-induced responses included induction of both type 1 and type 2 cytokines in the lungs as evaluated by ELISPOT and a multiplexed microsphere-based cytokine immunoassay. Of importance, i.n. subunit vaccination with Apa imparted significant protection in the lungs and spleen of mice against M. tuberculosis challenge. Despite observed differences in the frequencies and location of specific cytokine secreting T cells both BCG vaccination routes afforded comparable levels of protection in our study. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, our findings support consideration and further evaluation of an intranasally targeted Apa-based vaccine to prevent tuberculosis

Diagnostic accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: An international case-cohort study

We conducted an international study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis among a large group of physicians and compared their diagnostic performance to a panel of IPF experts. A total of 1141 respiratory physicians and 34 IPF experts participated. Participants evaluated 60 cases of interstitial lung disease (ILD) without interdisciplinary consultation. Diagnostic agreement was measured using the weighted kappa coefficient (\u3baw). Prognostic discrimination between IPF and other ILDs was used to validate diagnostic accuracy for first-choice diagnoses of IPF and were compared using the Cindex. A total of 404 physicians completed the study. Agreement for IPF diagnosis was higher among expert physicians (\u3baw=0.65, IQR 0.53-0.72, p20 years of experience (C-index=0.72, IQR 0.0-0.73, p=0.229) and non-university hospital physicians with more than 20 years of experience, attending weekly MDT meetings (C-index=0.72, IQR 0.70-0.72, p=0.052), did not differ significantly (p=0.229 and p=0.052 respectively) from the expert panel (C-index=0.74 IQR 0.72-0.75). Experienced respiratory physicians at university-based institutions diagnose IPF with similar prognostic accuracy to IPF experts. Regular MDT meeting attendance improves the prognostic accuracy of experienced non-university practitioners to levels achieved by IPF experts

Coercivity Behavior In Gd (co1-x Cux)5 System As Function Of The Microstructureevolution

Magnetic measurements, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments were carried out in the as-cast Gd(Co1-x Cux)5 samples with different Co/Cu content. Already in the as cast state, this system shows high coercive field for x=0.3 and a magnetization driven by nucleation of reversal domain. SEM micrograph and microanalysis show possible spinodal decomposition in the as-cast state, hence regions with different Co/Cu-content are observed, while the Gd-content almost does not change. High resolution X-ray diffraction patterns show a main CaCu5-type structure with traces of a secondary phase and distorted peak profiles as function of the Cu content. The evolution of the microstructure is discussed in relation with the Cu incorporation into the CaCu 5-type structure. The Cu addition avoids the formation of the 2:7 phase within the 1:5 matrix, favoring the formation of a more homogeneous Gd(Co,Cu)5 phase. The relation between the observed microstructure and the magnetic behavior is also discussed. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.4146771Nesbitt, E.A., Willens, R.H., Shenvood, R.C., Buehler, E., Wernick, J.H., (1968) Appl. Phys. Lett., 12 (361)Hasegawa, R., Taylor, R.C., (1975) J. Appl. Phys., 46, p. 3606Senno, H., Tawara, Y., (1974) IEEE Trans. Magn., MAG-10 (2), p. 313Strnat, K.J., Rare earth-cobalt permanent magnets (1988) Handbook of Magnetic Materials, 4. , E.P. Wohlfarth, K.H.J. Buschow (Eds.) ElsevierHumar, K., (1988) J. Appl. Phys., 63 (6)Grössinger, R., Tellez-Blanco, J.C., Turtelli, R.S., Hauser, R., Reiterer, K., Sassik, H., Chouteau, G., (2001) Phys. B, 194, p. 294Seixas, T.M., Machado Da Silva, J.M., Braun, H.F., Eska, G., (2008) J. Appl. Phys., 103, pp. 07b720Seixas, T.M., Salgueiro Da Silva, M.A., Braun, H.F., Eska, G., (2009) J. Appl. Phys., 105, pp. 07E102Kuznetsova, Yu.V., Suponev, N.P., Degteva, O.B., Salev, P.S., (2011) J. Surf. Invest., 5-6, p. 1107Grechishkin, R.M., Kustov, M.S., Cugat, O., Delamare, J., Poulin, G., Mavrudieva, D., Dempsey, N.M., (2006) Appl. Phys. Lett., 89, p. 122505De Oliveira, L.A.S., Sinnecker, J.P., Grössinger, R., Pentón- Madrigal, A., Estévez-Rams, E., (2011) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 323, p. 1890Hubbard, W.M., Adams, E., Gilfrich, J.V., (1960) J. Appl. Phys. Suppl., 31 (5)Uehara, M., (1980) J. Appl. Phys., 51, p. 5495Uehara, M., (1982) J. Appl. Phys., 53, p. 3730Shidlovsky, I., Wallace, W.E., (1970) J. Solid State Chem., 2, p. 193Chuang, Y.C., Wu, C.H., Chen, H.B., (1985) J. Less-Common Mater., 106, p. 41Estévez-Rams, E., Fidler, J., Pentón, A., Valor-Reed, A., Tellez-Blanco, J.C., Turtelli, R.S., Grössinger, R., (1999) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 195, p. 595Espina-Hernandez, J.H., Lora-Serrano, R., Knobel, M., Sinnecker, E.H.C.P., De Oliveira, L.A.S., Sinnecker, J.P., Grössinger, R., Estévez-Rams, E., (2009) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 42, p. 125005Kahn, Y., (1974) Phys. Status Solidi A, 23 K151Pareti, L., Solzi, M., Marusi, G., (1992) J. Appl. Phys., 72 (7), p. 3009Allen, C.W., Lia, K.C., Miller, A.E., (1977) J. Less-Common Met., 52 (109)Pentón, A., Estévez, E., Lora, R., Espina-Hernandez, J.H., Grössinger, R., Valor-Reed, A., Turtelli, R.S., (2007) J. Alloys Compd., 429, p. 343Lectard, E., Allibert, C.H., Valignat, N., (1994) Proceedings of the Eighth International Symposium on Magnetic Anisotropy and Coercivity in RE-TM Alloys, p. 30

Electrical and magnetic properties of coprecipited Ba-hexaferrites with addition of SiO2

Preliminary results on the effects of magnetic, electrical and structural characteristics of BaFe12O19, with addition of SiO2, prepared by the chemical coprecipitation method are reported. Several firing temperatures were used to investigate the admixture of SiO2 in the samples. Experimental data of electrical conductivity were obtained by ac measurements. Results are presented in terms of thermal and frequency dependent conductivity, sigma(omega). Universal sigma(0) + A omega s-type behavior is observed for log sigma(omega) vs log

Magnetoelectrical characterization of mixed Ba-Sr ferrites

Results on structural, magnetic and electrical characterization of ferrimagnetic compounds of BaxSr1-xFe12O19 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0) prepared by the conventional ceramic method are reported. The composition dependence of saturation magnetization and coercitivity shows a maximum values at x = 0.5 and x = 0.25, respectively. The conductivity independent of frequency, obtained from direct calculation of impedance plots, exhibits an acceptable Arrhenius behavior. Temperature dependence of the total ne conductivity shows, at high and low temperatures, the de and ac components. It was observed an increase in conductivity as the Ba concentration increases. All associated activation energies and dielectric constant are also calculated

Characterization of coprecipited Ba-hexaferrites with addition of SiO2

Preliminary results about the effect on magnetic, electrical and structural properties of the M-type ferrite BaFe12O19, due to the addition of SiO2, prepared by the chemical coprecipitation method are reported. Several firing temperatures were used in order to investigate the admixture of SiO2 in the samples. The ferrites were systematically examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Experimental data of electrical conductivity were obtained by ac measurements

Coercivity behavior in Gd(Co1-xCux)(5) system as function of the microstructure evolution

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Magnetic measurements, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments were carried out in the as-cast Gd(Co1-xCux)(5) samples with different Co/Cu content. Already in the as cast state, this system shows high coercive field for x = 0.3 and a magnetization driven by nucleation of reversal domain. SEM micrograph and microanalysis show possible spinodal decomposition in the as-cast state, hence regions with different Co/Cu-content are observed, while the Gd-content almost does not change. High resolution X-ray diffraction patterns show a main CaCu5-type structure with traces of a secondary phase and distorted peak profiles as function of the Cu content. The evolution of the microstructure is discussed in relation with the Cu incorporation into the CaCu5-type structure. The Cu addition avoids the formation of the 2:7 phase within the 1:5 matrix, favoring the formation of a more homogeneous Gd(Co, Cu)(5) phase. The relation between the observed microstructure and the magnetic behavior is also discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.4146771Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)[XPD-11718]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)CAPES [328/2011][XPD-11718