Serological responses to IBR viral vaccine and Mannheimia haemolytica bacterin/leukotoxoid administered with needle-free injection technology

Yearling steers were randomized to treatment and vaccinated with 5-way modified live viral vaccine and Mannheimia haemolytica bacterin/toxoid by using either needle-free or standard needle injection. Blood samples were collected from all animals at the time of vaccination and 21 days later, and the serum was analyzed for antibody titers to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus and M. haemolytica leukotoxoid. Serological responses to the IBR viral fraction of the 5-way viral vaccine were significantly greater on day 21 after administration with the needle-free injection system. Serological responses to the M. haemolytica leukotoxoid tended to be greater on day 21 after administration with the needle-free injection system

Pasteurella haemolytica antigens associated with resistance to pneumonic pasteurellosis

Antigens associated with whole Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A serotype 1, a capsular arbohydrateprotein extract of the organism, and P. haemolytica leukotoxin were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Antigens of the electrophoresed preparations were detected by Western blotting (immunoblotting) with sera from cattle which were either nonvaccinated or vaccinated with live or killed P. haemolytica vaccines and had variable degrees of resistance to experimental pneumonic pasteurellosis. Distinct, easily recognizable antigens of these preparations were identified, and the antibody responses to these antigens were quantified by densitometry. To determine their importance to disease resistance, we then compared antibody responses with experimental lesion scores. Antibody reactivity to surface antigens which were significantly correlated with resistance and present in two or more of the preparations were detected at 86, 66, 51, 49, 34, 31, and 16 kilodaltons (kDa). Of these, antibody responses to antigens at 86, 49, and 31 kDa appeared most important based on their concentration and significance levels. Antibody reactivity to leukotoxin antigens which were significantly correlated with resistance and common with important surface antigens were detected at 86, 66, and 49 kDa. Antibody responses to unique leukotoxin antigens which were significantly correlated with resistance were present at 92 and 58 kDa.Peer reviewedVeterinary Patholog

Interrater Reliability of NI-RADS on Posttreatment PET/Contrast-enhanced CT Scans in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: To evaluate the interrater reliability among radiologists examining posttreatment head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) fluorodeoxyglucose PET/contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) scans using Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System (NI-RADS). Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, images in 80 patients with HNSCC who underwent posttreatment surveillance PET/CECT and immediate prior comparison CECT or PET/CECT (from June 2014 to July 2016) were uploaded to the American College of Radiology's cloud-based website, Cortex. Eight radiologists from seven institutions with variable NI-RADS experience independently evaluated each case and assigned an appropriate prose description and NI-RADS category for the primary site and the neck site. Five of these individuals were experienced readers (> 5 years of experience), and three were novices (< 5 years of experience). In total, 640 lexicon-based and NI-RADS categories were assigned to lesions among the 80 included patients by the eight radiologists. Light generalization of Cohen κ for interrater reliability was performed. Results: Of the 80 included patients (mean age, 63 years ± 10 [standard deviation]), there were 58 men (73%); 60 patients had stage IV HNSCC (75%), and the most common tumor location was oropharynx (n = 32; 40%). Light κ for lexicon was 0.30 (95% CI: 0.23, 0.36) at the primary site and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.37) at the neck site. Light κ for NI-RADS category was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.63) at the primary site and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.48, 0.69) at the neck site. Percent agreement between lexicon and correlative NI-RADS category was 84.4% (540 of 640) at the primary site and 92.6% (593 of 640) at the neck site. There was no significant difference in interobserver agreement among the experienced versus novice raters. Conclusion: Moderate agreement was achieved among eight radiologists using NI-RADS at posttreatment HNSCC surveillance imaging

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission: Optical Telescope Element Design, Development, and Performance

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large, infrared space telescope that has recently started its science program which will enable breakthroughs in astrophysics and planetary science. Notably, JWST will provide the very first observations of the earliest luminous objects in the Universe and start a new era of exoplanet atmospheric characterization. This transformative science is enabled by a 6.6 m telescope that is passively cooled with a 5-layer sunshield. The primary mirror is comprised of 18 controllable, low areal density hexagonal segments, that were aligned and phased relative to each other in orbit using innovative image-based wavefront sensing and control algorithms. This revolutionary telescope took more than two decades to develop with a widely distributed team across engineering disciplines. We present an overview of the telescope requirements, architecture, development, superb on-orbit performance, and lessons learned. JWST successfully demonstrates a segmented aperture space telescope and establishes a path to building even larger space telescopes.Comment: accepted by PASP for JWST Overview Special Issue; 34 pages, 25 figure

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies.Comment: 5th version as accepted to PASP; 31 pages, 18 figures; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1538-3873/acb29

Foxp3 and Treg cells in HIV-1 infection and immuno-pathogenesis

FoxP3+CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are implicated in a number of pathologic processes including elevated levels in cancers and infectious diseases, and reduced levels in autoimmune diseases. Treg cells are activated to modulate immune responses to avoid over-reactive immunity. However, conflicting findings are reported regarding relative levels of Treg cells during HIV-1 infection and disease progression. The role of Treg cells in HIV-1 diseases (aberrant immune activation) is poorly understood due to lack of a robust model. We summarize here the regulation and function of Foxp3 in Treg cells and in modulating HIV-1 replication. Based on recent findings from SIV/monkey and HIV/humanized mouse models, a model of the dual role of Treg cells in HIV-1 infection and immuno-pathogenesis is discussed

Serological responses in dairy calves to various vaccines administered via needle-free or conventional needle-based injections

Dairy Research, 2005 is known as Dairy Day, 2005One hundred and four, 5- to 10-month-old Holstein heifers and steers were blocked by age within gender and randomly assigned to treatments. Calves were vaccinated with 5- way modified-live respiratory viral vaccine, Mannheimia hemolytic bacterin/toxoid, and 5- way Leptospira bacterin, administered via either needle-free or conventional needle-andsyringe injection techniques. Blood samples were collected from all calves at the time of vaccination and 21 days later. Blood sera were analyzed for antibody titers to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus as the indicator of serological response to the 5-way viral vaccine, to Leptospira pomona (LP) as the indicator of serological response to the 5-way Leptospira bacterin, and to Mannheimia hemolytica (MH) leukotoxoid. Responses of heifers on day 21 to the IBR fraction of the 5-way viral vaccine, MH bacterin, and LP fraction of the 5-way Lepto bacterin did not differ between methods of administration. Responses of steers on day 21 to the IBR fraction of the 5-way viral vaccine and MH bacterin were greater for the needle-free method of administration, whereas serological response to the LP fraction did not differ between methods of administration. We conclude that needle-free injections can eliminate broken needles in the carcass, reduce needle-borne transmission of disease, and possibly produce greater serological responses to various antigens, compared with those obtained with conventional needle-and-syringe injection systems

Toll-Like Receptor 4-Positive Macrophages Protect Mice from Pasteurella pneumotropica-Induced Pneumonia

This study investigates Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-positive macrophages in early recognition and clearance of pulmonary bacteria. TLR4 is a trans-membrane receptor that is the primary recognition molecule for lipopolysaccharide of gram-negative bacteria. The TLR4(Lps-del) mouse strains C57BL10/ScN (B10) and STOCK Abb(tm1) TLR4(Lps-del) Slc11a1(s)(B10 × C2D) are susceptible to pulmonary infections and develop pneumonia when naturally or experimentally infected by the opportunistic bacterium Pasteurella pneumotropica. Since these mice have the TLR4(Lps-del) genotype, we hypothesized that reconstitution of mice with TLR4-positive macrophages would provide resistance to this bacterium. A cultured macrophage cell line (C2D macrophages) and bone marrow cells from C2D mice were adoptively transferred to B10 and B10 × C2D mice by intraperitoneal injection. C2D macrophages increased B10 and B10 × C2D mouse resistance to P. pneumotropica. In C2D-recipient mice there was earlier transcription of tumor necrosis factor alpha and chemokines JE and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) in the lungs of B10 and B10 × C2D mice, and there was earlier transcription of KC and MIP-1α in B10 × C2D mice. In addition, the course of inflammation following experimental Pasteurella challenge was altered in C2D recipients. C2D macrophages also protected B10 × C2D mice, which lack CD4(+) T cells. These data indicate that macrophages are critical for pulmonary immunity and can provide host resistance to P. pneumotropica. This study indicates that TLR4-positive macrophages are important for early recognition and clearance of pulmonary bacterial infections