Purification and Immunological Evaluation of Protective Antigens of Outer Membrane Origin of Pasteurella Multocida Type 6:B

A study on the toxic effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Pasteurella multocida type 6:B in mice was conducted. In addition, the immunogenic potential of LPS as subunit vaccines was evaluated in mice. Initial studies showed that the purified LPS, which contained 0.14% protein as contaminant, had toxic effects in mice even at low levels. The mice exhibited toxic effects such as depression and ruffled hair coat after a few hours of inoculation and they survived if limited inoculation doses were used. It could be speculated that the protection afforded in mice immunised with LPS was not due to the LPS and the protection could be attributed to the contamination of proteins in the LPS extracts. Protective capacities of whole-cell killed vaccines grown under iron-regulated conditions were evaluated. Vaccines made from formalin-killed whole cells of P. multocida type 6:B grown under iron-restricted conditions were found to be superior in imparting protection to mice against experimental pasteurellosis than those grown under iron-repleted conditions. It could be speculated that some cell-associated antigens responsible for protective immunity were expressed better under iron-limiting conditions. The isolation and purification of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in this study was from P. multocida grown under iron-restricted condition where a,a' -dipyridyl was used as the iron chelator. The extraction of OMP of P. multocida was carried out using Sarkosyl method. The final purified OMP was chosen for subsequent purification studies, as it contained less LPS and afforded 100% protection to immunised mice. The extracts were shown to have about 12 protein bands when electrophoressed on SDS-PAGE gels in which 33 kD and 37 kD proteins appeared as major OMPs of P. multocida with the 87 kD and 116 kD protein bands as next prominent ones. Active protection studies of purified proteins obtained after preparative electrophoresis llsing Prep Cell, cylindrical and stained gels have shown that proteins with MWs 29, 33 and 37 kD have the potential as subunit vaccines. Whereas, high MW proteins only afTorded up to 60% protection to the immunised mice. However, the Immune response of the target and laboratory animals was different as judged by comparative immunoblotting. Almost all the antibodies of mice and cattle antiserum reacted to 29, 33, 37, 52, 71, 87 and 116 kD proteins except 33 kD protein for cattle antiserum. It showed that the mice immune response is very similar to the cattle. Mice immunised with purified 29 kD alone was shown to afford a lower protection. When it was excised, electro-eluted then rerun on mini SDS-PAGE, the 29 kD protein produced a ladder form of protein bands of MW 29, 37 and 47 kD. It was speculated that the 29 kD protein is a monomeric form of the protein H of P. multocida and the 37 kD protein is a trimer. Thus, the trimeric form with MW 37 kD protein could be an attractive vaccine candidate

The effect of virgin coconut oil loaded solid lipid particles (VCO-SLPs) on skin hydration and skin elasticity

Virgin Coconut Oil is usually extracted from well matured and fresh coconut through specialized processes without damaging its natural nutrition. In this work, formulation, characterization and efficacy of VCO-SLPs have been studied. VCO-SLPs were prepared using ultrasonification of molten stearic acid and virgin coconut oil in an aqueous solution and particles with the size of 0.608 μm have been obtained. 20% concentration of VCO-SLPs of 0.608 μm particle size was added into the base lotion. Sensory study and skin evaluation study was conducted to compare the difference between lotion containing VCO-SLPs and lotion without VCO-SLPs. Moisturizing lotion incorporated with VCO-SLPs was found to increase skin hydration and skin elasticity by 24.8% and 2.60% respectively from day 0 to day 28. This shows that solid lipid particles has the potential to be utilized as a carrier for improved dermal delivery of VCO

Optimization of extraction conditions of antioxidant activity from zingiber zerumbet oleoresin

The health promoting capacity of natural antioxidant from phytochemicals has increase attention from researchers and public. However, processing is affecting the activity and the bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the optimization of extraction condition of antioxidant activity from Zingiber zerumbet oleoresin was investigated. A Box-Behnken design technique was employed to study the effect of different range parameters of soxhlet extraction. Analysis of variance and response surface methodology were applied to identify the optimal processing parameter. Independent variables were extraction time (8, 10 and 12), type of solvent used (hexane, acetone, ethanol) and blanching treatment (steam treated, boil treated, untreated). The response and variables were fitted well to each other by multiple regressions. All the independent parameters affected oleoresin yield and antioxidant activity significantly. The optimal processing parameter that fulfilled the requirement for yield of oleoresin and antioxidant activity were found to be 12 h extraction time, ethanol as the solvent used and untreated sample. While, the optimal yield of oleoresin was 13.05% w/w and antioxidant activity was 16.01% w/w

An examination of audit functions: Accounting students’ perspective

The objective of this study is to examine the auditing function which serves the users of financial statements.The financial statements have been accepted as major sources for a company financial position where interested external parties based in their decision-making process.In addition, the auditor is expected to enhance the quality of financial report; that its reliability, credibility and comparability through a proper and competent course of audit.This study has selected students of higher learning institution.The researcher replicates a survey from Reynolds (1989) to examine how respondents actually view the audit functions in terms of its importance and effectiveness.The total mean for each variable was calculated and used to measure respondents’ perception and to test the hypotheses.The descriptive technique employed statistically indicated that all audit function was perceived as important and effective. For perceived importance, the findings had indicated that the students highly expected auditor to enhance the reliability of financial statements, ensure the reports are prepared in accordance to GAAP and sufficiently carry out valuation on company liabilities. In term of effectiveness, they agree that the auditors have effectively delivered audit function such on performing independent opinion of financial report, auditing profession is self regulated and auditors have ensured that the preparation of financial statements are according to GAAP. Audit functions are also ranked based on their total mean.Finally, a comparison was made between results from the current and Reynolds’ study to identify how different group of users actually perceive audit functions that are currently being performed by audit practitioners

Effects of pre-harvest production practices on post-harvest water loss of Leeks and Pak Choi.

The utilization of pre-harvest conditions as crop management tools to control post-harvest weight (water) loss had been studied. Studies on two model crops i.e. leek and pak choi had shown some promising uses of these production conditions in regulating weight loss from harvested leafy vegetable. Pre-harvest conditions such as environmental (temperature and light) and cultural (mineral nutrition, density of planting, salinity and irrigation) had been investigated. Water retention during storage was improved in pseudostems from leeks grown with adequate water supply, high light level, lower temperatures and K supplement in the growing media. Pseudostems from salinized plants conserved more water than non-salinized plants and leeks grown at 35 plants m־² retained water better than the other three plant densities (17.5, 22 and 44 plants mm־²). There were significant (p<0.001) interactions between temperature, salinity and water stress and cultivars on water loss from shoots of pak choi with shoots produced at 25°C, moderate salinity and water stressed being more resistant to water loss

Gas exchange characteristics and Leaf Chlorophyll content of two local hosts infected by Jarum Mas (Striga asiatica).

The effect of Jarum Mas (Striga asiatica), a parasite, on the gas exchange capacity and leaf chlorophyll content of two local grasses was studied. Infection by S. asiatica reduced the host photosynthetic capacity by reducing the apparenl quantum yield used for CO, fixation. In Ischaemum indicum, lower photosynthesis rates were also due to the reduction of RuBP-carboxylase capacity and the RuBP-carboxylase regeneration capacity of the host

Kepelbagaian dan kelimpahan foraminifera di sedimen permukaan sekitar Delta Sungai Kelantan, Malaysia

Suatu kajian telah dijalankan untuk menentukan kepelbagaian dan kelimpahan foraminifera di sedimen permukaan sekitar delta Sungai Kelantan memandangkan kajian foraminifera terutamanya di perairan marin Malaysia amat kurang. Sejumlah 22 stesen daripada dua garisan transek telah ditentukan sebagai kawasan persampelan. Sebanyak 10,317 individu foraminifera yang terdiri daripada 27 famili, 34 genus dan 55 spesies telah ditemui di kawasan kajian. Secara keseluruhannya, famili Hauerinidae mencatatkan kepelbagaian spesies tertinggi (10 spesies) manakala famili paling dominan dengan jumlah individu tertinggi ialah Rotaliidae (26.14%). Spesies dominan dan paling melimpah di kawasan kajian ialah Asterorotalia pulchella (17.24%) dan Operculina ammonoides (10.19%). Indeks kepelbagaian spesies, H’ yang dicatatkan ialah antara 0.5 hingga 3.1 manakala indeks kekayaan spesies, α adalah antara 1.5 hingga 7.9. Kelimpahan dan kepelbagaian spesies tertinggi (α=7.9, H’=3.1) dicatatkan pada stesen 21 yang terletak di laut terbuka dengan kedalaman air sebanyak 36.8 m dan bersaliniti 32.2 ppt mendekati laut normal. Nilai H’ dan α terendah dicatatkan pada stesen yang berdekatan dengan muara sungai yang cetek dan bersaliniti lebih rendah. Secara keseluruhannya, nilai indeks kepelbagaian yang dicatatkan di kawasan kajian adalah menepati persekitaran marin berair cetek. Kesimpulannya, kepelbagaian dan kelimpahan foraminifera di kawasan kajian dipengaruhi oleh kedalaman dan saliniti air

Leaf chlorophyll content of ornamental plants: a choice of destructive or non-destructive measurement

Most leaf chlorophyll determination requires collection and chemical extraction of tissue samples. This destructive method may not be suitable for the time series experiments and studies involving gas exchanges where the in situ measurements of total leaf chlorophyll are needed. Thus, in this study, a portable chlorophyll meter was used to compare the accuracy and validity of chlorophyll determination techniques. Leaf tissues of seven ornamental species were analysed for both methods. Strong correlation values were found between the acetoneextractable method and the portable chlorophyll meter readings. Regression equations were plotted and in most cases the correlations were more than 0.70. These regression equations therefore can be used to give conveniente, fast and accurate values to the users

The effect of short-term intermittent light exposure on total carbon content and quality of dark-stored ornamental chilli plants

Using ornamental chilli (Capsicum frutescens L.) as a model plant, a study was conducted on carbon balance analysis to determine the potential of using 2-3 hours of intensive light exposure per day to maintain the plant quality during 16 days storage period. Carbon input/output ratios were ascertained by measuring respiratory carbon losses and photosynthetic carbon inputs. Replacement of respiratory carbon losses (i. e. approx. 95 %) using 2-3 hours of light exposure was sufficient to maintain growth attributes (i.e. plant height, leaf area, leaf, stem, root and total dry weight)