Alchemilla vulgaris modulates isoproterenol-induced cardiotoxicity: interplay of oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis

Introduction: Isoproterenol (ISO) is regarded as an adrenergic non-selective β agonist. It regulates myocardial contractility and may cause damage to cardiac tissues. Alchemilla vulgaris (AV) is an herbal plant that has garnered considerable attention due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant bioactive components. The present investigation assessed the cardioprotective potential of AV towards ISO-induced myocardial damage.Methods: Four groups of mice were utilized: control that received saline, an ISO group (85 mg/kg, S.C.), ISO + AV100, and ISO + AV200 groups (mice received 100 or 200 mg/kg AV orally along with ISO).Results and discussion: ISO induced notable cardiac damage demonstrated by clear histopathological disruption and alterations in biochemical parameters. Intriguingly, AV treatment mitigates ISO provoked oxidative stress elucidated by a substantial enhancement in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) content, as well as a considerable reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. In addition, notable downregulation of inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1β, TNF-α, and RAGE) and the NF-κB/p65 pathway was observed in ISO-exposed animals following AV treatment. Furthermore, the pro-apoptotic marker Bax was downregulated together with autophagy markers Beclin1 and LC3 with in ISO-exposed animals when treated with AV. Pre-treatment with AV significantly alleviated ISO-induced cardiac damage in a dose related manner, possibly due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Interestingly, when AV was given at higher doses, a remarkable restoration of ISO-induced cardiac injury was revealed

Pathological and genetic characterization of foot and mouth disease viruses collected from cattle and water buffalo in Egypt.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease caused by FMD virus (FMDV) that threatens Egypt's livestock industry. FMDV causes severe economic losses in the livestock, with restriction of international trade from endemic regions. Surveillance for FMDV serotypes circulating in Egypt is urgently needed to assess the epidemiological situation in the country. FMD outbreaks reported in Egypt in between December 2016 and January-March 2017. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the FMDV serotypes responsible for the outbreaks and to collect information on the virus's morphopathological effects. Postmortem tissue and clinical samples (oral swabs, vesicular fluids from ruptured vesicles, and blood) were collected from recently deceased and infected animals. Pathological examination revealed classical FMD lesions as vesicular and erosive lesions on epithelial tissues with non-suppurative lymphoplasmacytic myocarditis. Phylogenetic and sequencing analyses demonstrated that FMDV serotype O, EA-3 topotype, VP1 is the prevalent serotype responsible for the pathological alterations and the high mortality in young calves, adult cattle, and water buffalo. The outcomes indicate continuous mutations in the circulating FMDV, which result in the occasional failure of vaccination. Based on these findings, extensive continuous monitoring and serotyping of the existing circulating FMDV isolates and regular vaccination with reevaluation of the currently used vaccine in Egypt are recommended to prevent the recurrence of such outbreaks

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of a virulent Marek’s disease virus field strain in broiler chickens in Japan

<p>Marek’s disease is a lymphoproliferative disease causing a serious threat in poultry production. Field strains of Marek’s disease virus (MDVs) are continuously re-emerging, causing great economical losses to the poultry industry worldwide in spite of the intensive vaccination and restrictive management policy used. Histopathological and molecular characterizations of MDVs are essential for monitoring the changes of viruses and evaluating the effectiveness of existing vaccines. During 2016, 190 visceral tumour tissues representing 30 vaccinated chicken flocks from the Gifu prefecture, Japan, were analysed. A pathological examination revealed the presence of lymphoproliferative lesions in the visceral organs. Polymerase chain reaction screening of tissue specimens using specific primers for avian leucosis virus, reticuloendotheliosis virus, and MDV was positive only for MDV. The polymerase chain reaction products of meq, pp38, virus-induced IL-8 homology, and glycoprotein MDV genes were sequenced and used for homology, phylogenetic, and similarity level analysis with the published reference of MDVs in the database. The results revealed high similarity between the field isolates, vv and vv+ strains of MDV from the USA and China. Several point mutations in the nucleotide sequence of the field isolates and their deduced amino acid sequences were detected in those genes. The present molecular analyses indicated that nucleotide and amino acid changes could be valuable criteria for differentiation and determination of the pathogenicity and oncogenicity of MDVs according to the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory pathotyping in vivo studies. Furthermore, the results suggest that development of a new vaccine must be considered to overcome this devastating avian oncogenic viral disease.</p

Alignment of the VP1 nucleotide sequence of Egyptian strains and reference strains shows several mutations in new strain and vaccinal strains.

Alignment of the VP1 nucleotide sequence of Egyptian strains and reference strains shows several mutations in new strain and vaccinal strains.</p

Alignment of VP1 amino acids sequence of Egyptian strains and reference strains shows several points of mutations in new strain and vaccinal strains.

Alignment of VP1 amino acids sequence of Egyptian strains and reference strains shows several points of mutations in new strain and vaccinal strains.</p

Histopathological lesions in FMDV naturally infected animals.

(a) Vesicles formations (arrows) with elevation of superficial epithelium in the stratified squamous epithelium of dermis, H&E, X200. (b) Vesicular stomatitis of the dental pad of infected calf characterized by leukocytic infiltrations of mucosal and submucosal layer of cornified epithelial tissue (arrows), H&E, X200. (c) Zenker,s necrosis (arrows) of muscular layers of stratified squamus epithelim with edema inbetween (arrowheads) of cattle, H&E, X200. (d) Mild myocarditis of the myocardium of buffalo with mild lymphocytic cell aggregations (arrows), H&E, X400. (e) Moderate myocarditis of the myocardium of buffalo calf (less than 2 Y) with moderate lymphocytic cell aggregations (arrows) and mild myocardial muscle necrosis (arrowheads), H&E, X400. (f) Severe non- suppurative myocarditis of heart of calf with a significant number of lymphocytic cell aggregations (arrows) with complete lysis of necrosed muscle fibers (arrowheads) and replacement of this muscles by a large number of inflammatory cells (arrows). The black star, referring to the myocardial muscle that still normal not necrosed, H&E, X400.</p

FMDV sequences reference strains published in GeneBank.

FMDV sequences reference strains published in GeneBank.</p

Alignment of the VP1 nucleotide sequence of Egyptian strains and reference strains shows several mutations in new strain and vaccinal strains.

Alignment of the VP1 nucleotide sequence of Egyptian strains and reference strains shows several mutations in new strain and vaccinal strains.</p