The effect of upstream boundary layer conditions on planar wake development

This paper investigates the characteristics of the turbulent wake structure developing from the trailing edge of an elliptical leading edge flat plate using particle image velocimetry. The objective of this present research is to measure the velocity fields in the near and far wake regions of the flat plate to provide insight into the flow mechanisms responsible for the development of the coherent structures within the wake due to the characteristics of the boundary layer at the trailing edge. The effect of two different boundary layers at the trailing edge of the flat plate is investigated – one laminar and one turbulent. In the laminar boundary layer case, the boundary layer is allowed to develop from the elliptic leading edge without disturbance to the trailing edge feeding a laminar boundary layer into the wake. In the turbulent boundary layer case, exactly the same free-stream velocity as the laminar case is used, but the boundary layer is tripped at the leading edge such that a turbulent boundary layer at the trailing edge feeds into the wake

Surveillance on A/H5N1 virus in domestic poultry and wild birds in Egypt

The endemic H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (A/H5N1) in poultry in Egypt continues to cause heavy losses in poultry and poses a significant threat to human health. Here we describe results of A/H5N1 surveillance in domestic poultry in 2009 and wild birds in 2009-2010. Tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected from domestic poultry from 22024 commercial farms, 1435 backyards and 944 live bird markets (LBMs) as well as from 1297 wild birds representing 28 different types of migratory birds. Viral RNA was extracted from a mix of tracheal and cloacal swabs media. Matrix gene of avian influenza type A virus was detected using specific real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and positive samples were tested by RT- qPCR for simultaneous detection of the H5 and N1 genes. In this surveillance, A/H5N1 was detected from 0.1% (n = 23/) of examined commercial poultry farms, 10.5% (n = 151) of backyard birds and 11.4% (n = 108) of LBMs but no wild bird tested positive for A/H5N1. The virus was detected from domestic poultry year- round with higher incidence in the warmer months of summer and spring particularly in backyard birds. Outbreaks were recorded mostly in Lower Egypt where 95.7% (n = 22), 68.9% (n = 104) and 52.8% (n = 57) of positive commercial farms, backyards and LBMs were detected, respectively. Higher prevalence (56%, n = 85) was reported in backyards that had mixed chickens and waterfowl together in the same vicinity and LBMs that had waterfowl (76%, n = 82). Our findings indicated broad circulation of the endemic A/H5N1 among poultry in 2009 in Egypt. In addition, the epidemiology of A/H5N1 has changed over time with outbreaks occurring in the warmer months of the year. Backyard waterfowl may play a role as a reservoir and/or source of A/H5N1 particularly in LBMs. The virus has been established in poultry in the Nile Delta where major metropolitan areas, dense human population and poultry stocks are concentrated. Continuous surveillance, tracing the source of live birds in the markets and integration of multifaceted strategies and global collaboration are needed to control the spread of the virus in Egypt

Protective efficacy of recombinant turkey herpes virus (rHVT-H5) and inactivated H5N1 vaccines in commercial Mulard ducks against the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.2.1 virus

In Egypt, ducks kept for commercial purposes constitute the second highest poultry population, at 150 million ducks/year. Hence, ducks play an important role in the introduction and transmission of avian influenza (AI) in the Egyptian poultry population. Attempts to control outbreaks include the use of vaccines, which have varying levels of efficacy and failure. To date, the effects of vaccine efficacy has rarely been determined in ducks. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of a live recombinant vector vaccine based on a turkey Herpes Virus (HVT) expressing the H5 gene from a clade 2.2 H5N1 HPAIV strain (A/Swan/ Hungary/499/2006) (rHVT-H5) and a bivalent inactivated H5N1 vaccine prepared from clade 2.2.1 and 2.2.1.1 H5N1 seeds in Mulard ducks. A 0.3ml/dose subcutaneous injection of rHVT-H5 vaccine was administered to one-day-old ducklings (D1) and another 0.5ml/ dose subcutaneous injection of the inactivated MEFLUVAC was administered at 7 days (D7). Four separate challenge experiments were conducted at Days 21, 28, 35 and 42, in which all the vaccinated ducks were challenged with 106EID50/duck of H5N1 HPAI virus (A/ chicken/Egypt/128s/2012(H5N1) (clade 2.2.1) via intranasal inoculation. Maternal-derived antibody regression and post-vaccination antibody immune responses were monitored weekly. Ducks vaccinated at 21, 28, 35 and 42 days with the rHVT-H5 and MEFLUVAC vaccines were protected against mortality (80%, 80%, 90% and 90%) and (50%, 70%, 80% and 90%) respectively, against challenges with the H5N1 HPAI virus. The amount of viral shedding and shedding rates were lower in the rHVT-H5 vaccine groups than in the MEFLUVAC groups only in the first two challenge experiments. However, the non-vaccinated groups shed significantly more of the virus than the vaccinated groups. Both rHVT-H5 and MEFLUVAC provide early protection, and rHVT-H5 vaccine in particular provides protection against HPAI challenge.S1 Table. Weekly mean HI titres (log2 ± SD) using A/Swan/Hungary/4999/2006) rHVT/Ag that indicate the immune response to the rHVT-H5 vaccination. S1 Table legend: Different upper case letters in a row denote the presence of statistically significant (p 0.05) differences. Group I (vaccinated with rHVT-H5 vaccine at 1 day old), Group II (vaccinated with inactivated KV-H5 vaccine at 8 days old), Group III (unvaccinated control).S2 Table. Weekly mean HI titres (log2 ± SD) measured using (A/chicken/Egypt/Q1995D/ 2010) V/H5N1/Ag that indicates the immune response to the KV-H5 vaccination. S2 Table legend: Different upper case letters in a row denote the presence of statistically significant (p 0.05) differences. Group 1 (vaccinated with rHVT-H5 vaccine at 1 day old), Group II (vaccinated with inactivated KV-H5 vaccine at 8 days old), Group III (unvaccinated control).S3 Table. Weekly mean HI titres (log2 ± SD) measured using (A/chicken/Egypt/128S/2012) C/H5N1/Ag that indicates the immune response to the challenge virus. S3 Table legend: Different upper case letters in a row denote the presence of statistically significant (p 0.05) differences. Group 1 (vaccinated with rHVT-H5 vaccine at 1 day old), Group II (vaccinated with inactivated KV-H5 vaccine at 8 days old), Group III (unvaccinated control).This work was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under a grant (AID-263-IO-11-00001, Mod. #3) and within the framework of OSRO/EGY/101/ USA, which applies to projects jointly implemented by the FAO, GOVS and NLQP.http://www.plosone.orgam2016Production Animal StudiesVeterinary Tropical Disease

Protective efficacy of recombinant turkey herpes virus (rHVT-H5) and inactivated H5N1 vaccines in commercial Mulard ducks against the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.2.1 virus

In Egypt, ducks kept for commercial purposes constitute the second highest poultry population, at 150 million ducks/year. Hence, ducks play an important role in the introduction and transmission of avian influenza (AI) in the Egyptian poultry population. Attempts to control outbreaks include the use of vaccines, which have varying levels of efficacy and failure. To date, the effects of vaccine efficacy has rarely been determined in ducks. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of a live recombinant vector vaccine based on a turkey Herpes Virus (HVT) expressing the H5 gene from a clade 2.2 H5N1 HPAIV strain (A/Swan/ Hungary/499/2006) (rHVT-H5) and a bivalent inactivated H5N1 vaccine prepared from clade 2.2.1 and 2.2.1.1 H5N1 seeds in Mulard ducks. A 0.3ml/dose subcutaneous injection of rHVT-H5 vaccine was administered to one-day-old ducklings (D1) and another 0.5ml/ dose subcutaneous injection of the inactivated MEFLUVAC was administered at 7 days (D7). Four separate challenge experiments were conducted at Days 21, 28, 35 and 42, in which all the vaccinated ducks were challenged with 106EID50/duck of H5N1 HPAI virus (A/ chicken/Egypt/128s/2012(H5N1) (clade 2.2.1) via intranasal inoculation. Maternal-derived antibody regression and post-vaccination antibody immune responses were monitored weekly. Ducks vaccinated at 21, 28, 35 and 42 days with the rHVT-H5 and MEFLUVAC vaccines were protected against mortality (80%, 80%, 90% and 90%) and (50%, 70%, 80% and 90%) respectively, against challenges with the H5N1 HPAI virus. The amount of viral shedding and shedding rates were lower in the rHVT-H5 vaccine groups than in the MEFLUVAC groups only in the first two challenge experiments. However, the non-vaccinated groups shed significantly more of the virus than the vaccinated groups. Both rHVT-H5 and MEFLUVAC provide early protection, and rHVT-H5 vaccine in particular provides protection against HPAI challenge.S1 Table. Weekly mean HI titres (log2 ± SD) using A/Swan/Hungary/4999/2006) rHVT/Ag that indicate the immune response to the rHVT-H5 vaccination. S1 Table legend: Different upper case letters in a row denote the presence of statistically significant (p 0.05) differences. Group I (vaccinated with rHVT-H5 vaccine at 1 day old), Group II (vaccinated with inactivated KV-H5 vaccine at 8 days old), Group III (unvaccinated control).S2 Table. Weekly mean HI titres (log2 ± SD) measured using (A/chicken/Egypt/Q1995D/ 2010) V/H5N1/Ag that indicates the immune response to the KV-H5 vaccination. S2 Table legend: Different upper case letters in a row denote the presence of statistically significant (p 0.05) differences. Group 1 (vaccinated with rHVT-H5 vaccine at 1 day old), Group II (vaccinated with inactivated KV-H5 vaccine at 8 days old), Group III (unvaccinated control).S3 Table. Weekly mean HI titres (log2 ± SD) measured using (A/chicken/Egypt/128S/2012) C/H5N1/Ag that indicates the immune response to the challenge virus. S3 Table legend: Different upper case letters in a row denote the presence of statistically significant (p 0.05) differences. Group 1 (vaccinated with rHVT-H5 vaccine at 1 day old), Group II (vaccinated with inactivated KV-H5 vaccine at 8 days old), Group III (unvaccinated control).This work was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under a grant (AID-263-IO-11-00001, Mod. #3) and within the framework of OSRO/EGY/101/ USA, which applies to projects jointly implemented by the FAO, GOVS and NLQP.http://www.plosone.orgam2016Production Animal StudiesVeterinary Tropical Disease

Effectiveness of esterified whey proteins fractions against Egyptian Lethal Avian Influenza A (H5N1)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus is one of the most important public health concerns worldwide. The antiviral activity of native and esterified whey proteins fractions (α- lactalbumin, β- lactoglobulin, and lactoferrin) was evaluated against A/chicken/Egypt/086Q-NLQP/2008 HPAI (H5N1) strain of clade 2.2.1 (for multiplicity of infection (1 MOI) after 72 h of incubation at 37°C in the presence of 5% CO₂) using MDCK cell lines.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>Both the native and esterified lactoferrin seem to be the most active antiviral protein among the tested samples, followed by β- lactoglobulin. α-Lactalbumin had less antiviral activity even after esterification.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Esterification of whey proteins fractions especially lactoferrin and β-lactoglobulin enhanced their antiviral activity against H5N1 in a concentration dependent manner.</p

An Updated Meta-Analysis of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene: Three Well-Characterized Polymorphisms with Hypertension

BACKGROUND: Numerous individually underpowered association studies have been conducted on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) genetic variants across different ethnic populations, however, the results are often irreproducible. We therefore aimed to meta-analyze three eNOS widely-evaluated polymorphisms, G894T (rs1799983) in exon 7, 4b/a in intron 4, and T-786C (rs2070744) in promoter region, in association with hypertension from both English and Chinese publications, while addressing between-study heterogeneity and publication bias. METHODS: Data were analyzed using Stata software (version 11.0), and random-effects model was applied irrespective of between-study heterogeneity, which was evaluated by subgroup and meta-regression analyses. Publication bias was weighed using the Egger's test and funnel plot. RESULTS: There were total 19284/26003 cases/controls for G894T, and 6890/6858 for 4b/a, and 5346/6392 for T-786C polymorphism. Overall comparison of allele 894T with 894G in all study populations yielded a 16% increased risk for hypertension (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.07-1.27; P = 0.001), and particularly a 32% increased risk (95% CI: 1.16-1.52; P<0.0005) in Asians and a 40% increased risk (95% CI: 1.19-1.65; P<0.0005) in Chinese. Further subgroup analyses suggested that published languages accounted for the heterogeneity for G894T polymorphism. The overall OR of allele 4a versus 4b was 1.29 (95% CI: 1.13-1.46; P<0.0005) in all study populations, and this estimate was potentiated in Asians (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.16-1.72; P<0.0005). For T-786C, ethnicity-stratified analyses suggested a significantly increased risk for -786C allele (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.06-1.47; P = 0.007) and -786CC genotype (OR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.20-2.38; P = 0.003) in Whites. As an aside, the aforementioned risk estimates reached significance after Bonferroni correction. Finally, meta-regression analysis on other study-level covariates failed to provide any significance for all polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: We, via a comprehensive meta-analysis, ascertained the role of eNOS G894T and 4b/a polymorphisms on hypertension in Asians, and T-786C polymorphism in Whites

A phase II study of a 5T4 oncofoetal antigen tumour-targeted superantigen (ABR-214936) therapy in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

In a phase II study, 43 renal cell carcinoma patients were treated with individualised doses of ABR-214936; a fusion of a Fab recognising the antigen 5T4, and Staphylococcal enterotoxin A. Drug was given intravenously on 4 consecutive days, treatment was repeated 1 month later. Treatment was associated with moderate fever and nausea, but well tolerated. Of 40 evaluable patients, 28 had disease control at 2 months, and at 4 months, one patient showed partial response (PR) and 16 patients stable disease. Median survival, with minimum follow-up of 26 months was 19.7 months with 13 patients alive to date. Stratification by the Motzer's prognostic criteria highlights prolonged survival compared to published expectation. Patients receiving higher drug exposure had greater disease control and lived almost twice as long as expected, whereas the low-exposure patients survived as expected. Sustained interleukin-2 (IL-2) production after a repeated injection appears to be a biomarker for clinical effect, as the induced-IL-2 level on the day 2 of treatment correlated with survival. The high degree of disease control and the prolonged survival suggest that this treatment can be effective. These findings will be used in the trial design for the next generation of drug, with reduced antigenicity and toxicity