Effect of challenge of pigs previously immunised with inactivated vaccines containing homologous and heterologous Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strains

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae </it>is the primary cause of enzootic pneumonia in pigs. Although vaccination is an important control tool, the results observed under field conditions are variable. This may be due to antigenic differences between the strains circulating in pig herds and the vaccine strain. This study compared the protective efficacy of four bacterins against challenge infection with a highly virulent field strain of <it>M. hyopneumoniae</it>.</p> <p>Seventy eight, one-week old piglets were randomly assigned to five treatment groups (A, B, C, D, E), 14 piglets each, and a negative control group (F) consisting of 8 piglets. All pigs were injected at 1 (D7) and 4 weeks of age (D28), with 2 ml of either a placebo or a bacterin based on selected <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>strains, namely A (F7.2C), B (F20.1L), C (B2V1W20 1A-F), D (J strain), E (placebo; positive control), F (placebo; negative control). At D56, all pigs except those of group F were challenged intratracheally with 7 ml culture medium containing 10⁷CCU/ml of <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>strain F7.2C. All pigs were euthanized and necropsied at D84. The severity of coughing and pneumonia lesions were the main parameters. Immunofluorescence (IF) testing, nested PCR testing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serology for <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>were also performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The different bacterins only slightly improved clinical symptoms (average 0.38 in vaccinated groups vs. 0.45 in group E) and histopathological lung lesions (average 3.20 in vaccinated groups vs. 3.45 in group E), but did not improve macroscopic lung lesions (score 4.30 vs. 4.03 in group E). None of the vaccines was significantly and/or consistently better or worse than the other ones. All bacterins evoked a serological response in the vaccinated animals. All pigs, except those from group F, were positive with nPCR in BAL fluid at D84.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The bacterins did not induce a clear overall protection against challenge infection, and there were no significant differences in protective efficacy between bacterins containing homologous and heterologous <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>strains. Further research is necessary to better characterize the antigens involved in protection and to elucidate the protective immunity responses following <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>vaccination and/or infection.</p

Vaccination reduces macrophage infiltration in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in pigs infected with a highly virulent Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae </it>is the causative agent of enzootic pneumonia and is responsible for significant economic losses to the pig industry. To better understand the mode of action of a commercial, adjuvanted, inactivated whole cell vaccine and the influence of diversity on the efficacy of vaccination, we investigated samples from vaccinated and non-vaccinated pigs experimentally infected with either a low (LV) or a highly virulent (HV) <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>strain. Non-vaccinated and sham-infected control groups were included. Lung tissue samples collected at 4 and 8 weeks post infection (PI) were immunohistochemically tested for the presence of T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and macrophages in the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). The number of <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>organisms in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was determined using quantitative PCR at 4 and 8 weeks PI. Serum antibodies against <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>were determined at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks PI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The immunostaining revealed a lower density of macrophages in the BALT of the vaccinated groups compared to the non-vaccinated groups. The highest number of <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>organisms in the BAL fluid was measured at 4 weeks PI for the HV strain and at 8 weeks PI for the LV strain. Vaccination reduced the number of organisms non-significantly, though for the HV strain the reduction was clinically more relevant than for the LV strain. At the level of the individual pigs, a higher lung lesion score was associated with more <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>organisms in the lungs and a higher density of the investigated immune cells in the BALT.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In conclusion, the infiltration of macrophages after infection with <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>is reduced by vaccination. The <it>M. hyopneumoniae </it>replication in the lungs is also reduced in vaccinated pigs, though the HV strain is inhibited more than the LV strain.</p

Early mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections in European suckling pigs in herds with respiratory problems: detection rate and risk factors

The present study aimed at estimating the detection rate of M. hyopneumoniae in 3-week-old pigs in different European countries and to identify possible risk factors. Nasal swabs from suckling pigs in 52 farms were collected for nested PCR analysis. Potential risk factors for respiratory disease were analysed with a multivariable logistic regression model. The average percentage of positive piglets was 10.7% (95% confidence interval, CI 7.4-14.2); at least one pig tested positive in 68% of herds. In 32% of the herds, more than 10% of piglets tested positive. Herds that vaccinated sows against swine influenza virus (SIV) had a significantly higher risk of a piglet being positive for M. hyopneumoniae (OR 3.12; 95% CI 1.43-6.83). The higher risk in case of SIV vaccination is difficult to explain, but may be due to the fact that pig herds with respiratory symptoms are more likely to be vaccinated against SIV, overlooking the possible influence of other respiratory pathogens such as M. hyopneumoniae. The present findings show that M. hyopneumoniae is widespread in 3-week-old piglets across different European countries

Gene Copy Number Quantification of SHOX , VAMP7 , and SRY for the Detection of Sex Chromosome Aneuploidies in Neonates

Aims: To explore the feasibility of detecting sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) by means of gene copy number quantification of short stature homeobox (SHOX), vesicle-associated membrane protein 7 (VAMP7), and SRY in newborns. Materials and Methods: Gene doses of SHOX, VAMP7, and SRY were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using DNA obtained from dried blood samples from newborns. Relative quantification values were obtained. An aneuploidy profile was established according to cutoff values. Samples with ≥2 gene doses (out of range) were reanalyzed, and those with aneuploidy profiles were confirmed by karyotyping. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were obtained. Results: A total of 10,033 samples were collected (4945 females and 5088 males). Of 244 (2.43%) samples with ≥2 gene doses that were retested, 20 cases were confirmed. The overall incidence of SCAs was 1 in 500 live newborns. There were six cases of Turner syndrome (1/824), 3 cases of XXX (1/1648), 7 cases of Klinefelter syndrome (1/726), and 4 cases of of XYY (1/1272). The sensitivity was 0.952 (95.24%), specificity of 0.975 (97.56%), positive predictive value of 0.909 (90.91%), and negative predictive value of 0.987 (98.77%). Conclusions: Gene copy number analyses of VAMP7, SHOX, and SRY genes by qPCR from blood samples spotted onto filter paper is a highly reliable method for the early detection of male and female SCAs

O devenir de um grupo de pesquisa em educação matemáticana Universidade Nacional de Córdoba

Este artículo muestra la trayectoria de un grupo de investigación en educación matemática que forma parte del Grupo de Enseñanza de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, alojado en la Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía, Física y Computación de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina). El artículo inicia con un breve recorrido por la historia del grupo desde su creación a mediados de la década de los sesenta, reportando sobre diversas acciones de relevancia para la educación matemática local. Luego, se describen las actividades de docencia, investigación y extensión desarrolladas, como funciones sustantivas de la universidad pública en Argentina. Se ofrecen detalles de la docencia relacionada con la formación de futuros profesores de matemática en la universidad. Se especifican las líneas de investigación y los marcos teóricos que las sustentan y se reportan las principales acciones de extensión vinculadas con la formación docente y de otros actores sociales. Si bien estas tres actividades se presentan separadas, los fuertes vínculos que existen entre ellas las condicionan y definen mutuamente. El artículo cierra con una breve referencia a las perspectivas de investigación más recientes y una reflexión sobre el valor de conocer las trayectorias de grupos de investigación en educación matemática de América Latina.Fil: Villarreal, Monica Ester. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física. Grupo de Enseñanza de la Ciencia y la Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Coirini Carreras, Araceli. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física. Grupo de Enseñanza de la Ciencia y la Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Dipierri, Iris Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física. Grupo de Enseñanza de la Ciencia y la Tecnología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades. Centro de Investigaciones María Saleme Burnichón; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fregona, Dilma Gladis. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física. Grupo de Enseñanza de la Ciencia y la Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Gerez Cuevas, José Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física. Grupo de Enseñanza de la Ciencia y la Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Viola, Fernanda Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física. Grupo de Enseñanza de la Ciencia y la Tecnología; Argentin

Genetic variants in KCNJ11, TCF7L2 and HNF4A are associated with type 2 diabetes, BMI and dyslipidemia in families of Northeastern Mexico: A pilot study

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether genetic markers considered risk factors for metabolic syndromes, including dyslipidemia, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), can be applied to a Northeastern Mexican population. A total of 37 families were analyzed for 63 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and the age, body mass index (BMI), glucose tolerance values and blood lipid levels, including those of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very LDL (VLDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides were evaluated. Three genetic markers previously associated with metabolic syndromes were identified in the sample population, including KCNJ11, TCF7L2 and HNF4A. The KCNJ11 SNP rs5210 was associated with T2DM, the TCF7L2 SNP rs11196175 was associated with BMI and cholesterol and LDL levels, the TCF7L2 SNP rs12255372 was associated with BMI and HDL, VLDL and triglyceride levels, and the HNF4A SNP rs1885088 was associated with LDL levels (P<0.05)

IV Congreso Nacional sobre Didáctica de la Física y II Congreso Nacional sobre Didáctica Transdiciplinar de las Ciencias

http://www.grincef.nurr.ula.ve/4CNDF2015/Index_principal.ht

Altered oscillatory brain dynamics after repeated traumatic stress

Kolassa I-T, Wienbruch C, Neuner F, et al. Altered oscillatory brain dynamics after repeated traumatic stress. BMC Psychiatry. 2007;7(1): 56.BACKGROUND: Repeated traumatic experiences, e.g. torture and war, lead to functional and structural cerebral changes, which should be detectable in cortical dynamics. Abnormal slow waves produced within circumscribed brain regions during a resting state have been associated with lesioned neural circuitry in neurological disorders and more recently also in mental illness. METHODS: Using magnetoencephalographic (MEG-based) source imaging, we mapped abnormal distributions of generators of slow waves in 97 survivors of torture and war with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in comparison to 97 controls. RESULTS: PTSD patients showed elevated production of focally generated slow waves (1-4 Hz), particularly in left temporal brain regions, with peak activities in the region of the insula. Furthermore, differential slow wave activity in right frontal areas was found in PTSD patients compared to controls. CONCLUSION: The insula, as a site of multimodal convergence, could play a key role in understanding the pathophysiology of PTSD, possibly accounting for what has been called posttraumatic alexithymia, i.e., reduced ability to identify, express and regulate emotional responses to reminders of traumatic events. Differences in activity in right frontal areas may indicate a dysfunctional PFC, which may lead to diminished extinction of conditioned fear and reduced inhibition of the amygdala