MicroRNA-221 silencing attenuates the degenerated phenotype of intervertebral disc cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of an antichondrogenic factor, MIR221 (miR‐221), in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), and provide basic information for the development of a therapeutic strategy for the disc repair based on specific nucleic acid based drugs, such as miR‐221 silencing. We established a relatively quick protocol to minimize artifacts from extended in vitro culture, without selecting the different types of cells from intervertebral disc (IVD) or completely disrupting extracellular matrix (ECM), but by using the whole cell population with a part of resident ECM. During the de‐differentiation process miR‐221 expression significantly increased. We demonstrated the effectiveness of miR‐221 silencing in driving the cells towards chondrogenic lineage. AntagomiR‐221 treated cells showed in fact a significant increase of expression of typical chondrogenic markers including COL2A1, ACAN and SOX9, whose loss is associated with IDD. Moreover, antagomiR‐221 treatment restored FOXO3 expression and increased TRPS1 expression levels attenuating the severity grade of degeneration, and demonstrating in a context of tissue degeneration and inflammation not investigated before, that FOXO3 is target of miR‐221. Data of present study are promising in the definition of new molecules useful as potential intradiscal injectable biological agents

Antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine: An overview

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents one of the most important human-and animal health-threatening issues worldwide. Bacterial capability to face antimicrobial compounds is an ancient feature, enabling bacterial survival over time and the dynamic surrounding. Moreover, bacteria make use of their evolutionary machinery to adapt to the selective pressure exerted by antibiotic treatments, resulting in reduced efficacy of the therapeutic intervention against human and animal infections. The mechanisms responsible for both innate and acquired AMR are thoroughly investigated. Commonly, AMR traits are included in mobilizable genetic elements enabling the homogeneous diffusion of the AMR traits pool between the ecosystems of diverse sectors, such as human medicine, veterinary medicine, and the environment. Thus, a coordinated multisectoral approach, such as One-Health, provides a detailed comprehensive picture of the AMR onset and diffusion. Following a general revision of the molecular mechanisms responsible for both innate and acquired AMR, the present manuscript focuses on reviewing the contribution of veterinary medicine to the overall issue of AMR. The main sources of AMR amenable to veterinary medicine are described, driving the attention towards the indissoluble cross-talk existing between the diverse ecosystems and sectors and their cumulative cooperation to this warning phenomenon

Animal board invited review: advances in proteomics for animal and food sciences

Animal production and health (APH) is an important sector in the world economy, representing a large proportion of the budget of all member states in the European Union and in other continents. APH is a highly competitive sector with a strong emphasis on innovation and, albeit with country to country variations, on scientific research. Proteomics (the study of all proteins present in a given tissue or fluid - i.e. the proteome) has an enormous potential when applied to APH. Nevertheless, for a variety of reasons and in contrast to disciplines such as plant sciences or human biomedicine, such potential is only now being tapped. To counter such limited usage, 6 years ago we created a consortium dedicated to the applications of Proteomics to APH, specifically in the form of a Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action, termed FA1002 - Proteomics in Farm Animals: www.cost-faproteomics.org. In 4 years, the consortium quickly enlarged to a total of 31 countries in Europe, as well as Israel, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. This article has a triple purpose. First, we aim to provide clear examples on the applications and benefits of the use of proteomics in all aspects related to APH. Second, we provide insights and possibilities on the new trends and objectives for APH proteomics applications and technologies for the years to come. Finally, we provide an overview and balance of the major activities and accomplishments of the COST Action on Farm Animal Proteomics. These include activities such as the organization of seminars, workshops and major scientific conferences, organization of summer schools, financing Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) and the generation of scientific literature. Overall, the Action has attained all of the proposed objectives and has made considerable difference by putting proteomics on the global map for animal and veterinary researchers in general and by contributing significantly to reduce the East-West and North-South gaps existing in the European farm animal research. Future activities of significance in the field of scientific research, involving members of the action, as well as others, will likely be established in the future.European Science Foundation (Brussels, Belgium)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Occurrence of Fipronil in residential house dust in the presence and absence of pets: a hint for a comprehensive toxicological assessment

The presence of the insecticide Fipronil and its main products of toxicological relevance, namely Sulfone and Desulfinyl, was assessed in 161 residential house dust samples in the absence (N = 101) and presence (N = 60) of cats and dogs in Italy. High-resolution mass spectrometry analysis revealed a significant difference (p < 0.001) in the dust contamination in the presence of pets (median: 467 vs. 24 ng/g dry weight), even if the highest value was found in the absence of pets (82,069 vs. 67,799 ng/g dry weight). Fipronil intake estimates from dust in toddlers, computed according to US-EPA and EU-ECHA guidelines, ranged from 333 to 556 and from 20 to 34 ng/kg per day for acute and chronic scenario, respectively. Dust seemed not able itself to lead to Fipronil overexposure with respect to acute and chronic toxicity health-based guidance values. Kittens were potentially overexposed to Fipronil under both acute (26,076 ng/kg per day) and chronic (1,633 ng/kg per day) scenarios. The mild symptomatology associated with acute intoxication could possibly determine case underreporting within pharmacosurveillance schemes. Its administration was estimated in 7.3\u20139.7 tons per year. Such a range suggests its prudent use under strict veterinary control to prevent pest resistance and ecotoxicological outcomes

Seroprevalence and microbiological monitoring in eggs for salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis and salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium in ornamental chicken flocks in italy

Few data are available about the prevalence of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S.E.) and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S.T.) in ornamental poultry in Italy. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence for S.E. and S.T. using serological tests and the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in eggs by culture methods. For this purpose, 240 serum samples and 216 eggs were sampled from asymptomatic and unvaccinated ornamental hens reared in 24 farms, located in 8 different Italian regions. As screening test, a Tube Serum Agglutination test (TSA) was performed on 231 out of 240 serum samples. Four out of 24 farms (16.67%) were serologically positive for Salmonella spp. for a total of 10 samples. These positive samples were confirmed using an ELISA test and the results show that 5/231 (2.16%) and 7/231 (3.03%) serum samples were positive for S.E. and S.T. respectively, and 2/231 (0.87%) for both serotypes. Among all farms, 2/24 (8.33%) were positive for S.E. and 4/24 (16.67%) for S.T. The analysis of eggs using culture methods gave negative results for both yolk and shell pools (0/48, 0.0%). The seroconversion associated with exposure to S.E./S.T. in ornamental poultry, poses a potential public health problem. This study confirms that S.E. and S.T. are widespread in studied backyard poultry farms as asymptomatic form, and animals as potential reservoirs of Salmonella. It is necessary to inform farmers that a regular and periodic control of animals, eggs or meat, is very important to prevention of Salmonella foodborne infections and their spread

Development of Histamine in Fresh and Canned Tuna Steaks Stored under Different Experimental Temperature Conditions

Among biogenic amines, histamine is most frequently involved in foodborne intoxication. To evaluate histamine formation in tuna, several storage conditions were reproduced. An LC-MS/MS method was used for analytical determinations. Fresh tuna samples (not contaminated and grafted with tuna muscle naturally incurred with histamine at 6000 mg/kg) were stored at 4, 12, and 20 degrees C, and daily samples were collected for 6 days. The development of histamine was observed only in grafted tuna samples. At 4 degrees C, histamine formation progressed from 12.8 mg/kg (day 1) up to 68.2 mg/kg (day 6). At 12 degrees C, higher concentrations developed (23.9 mg/kg on day 1 up to 2721.3 mg/kg on day 6) relative to 20 degrees C (from 12.0 to 1681.0 mg/kg). It was found that at 4 degrees C, if grafted tuna was submerged in oil, histamine formation progressed more slowly. In a naturally contaminated sample, it was observed that the histamine distribution was uniform, while the normal cooking process did not affect the histamine level. Furthermore, it was found that the use of histamine-contaminated equipment for food handling may result in histamine formation in food. These results confirm the importance of implementing good hygiene practices and respecting the cold chain

Evaluation of the Acaricidal Effectiveness of Fipronil and Phoxim in Field Populations of Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) from Ornamental Poultry Farms in Italy

The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae is the most important blood-sucking ectoparasite in egg-laying hen facilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro acaricidal activity of different concentration of authorized (phoxim, ByeMite®, 500 mg/mL) and unauthorized (fipronil, Frontline® 250 mg/100 mL spray) molecules on 14 field isolates of D. gallinae collected from different ornamental poultry farms from different Italian regions. The sensitivity test was performed by contact exposure to four concentrations of each insecticide diluted at 1:5 (10,000-2000-400-80 ppm for phoxim, 500-100-20-4 ppm for fipronil) on a filter paper. The effectiveness of the treatment was significantly (p < 0.0001) associated with the dose of the pesticide used. Considering the mean lethality, phoxim has greater efficacy compared to fipronil (p < 0.001). A great variability of lethality rate was observed with the increase in fipronil dilution; conversely, for phoxim, some outliers were observed, particularly in one farm, suggesting the hypothesis that a certain degree of resistance in the mite population could occur possibly as a consequence of the continual contact with the molecule. This underlines the importance of the use of licensed products administered at correct dosages and the need for alternative molecules to avoid the onset of drug resistance phenomena

Occurrence of ochratoxin a in different types of cheese offered for sale in Italy

The detection of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in the milk of ruminants occurs infrequently and at low levels, but its occurrence may be higher in dairy products such as cheese. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of OTA in cheeses purchased in the metropolitan city of Bologna (Italy) and the surrounding area. For the analysis, a LC-MS/MS method with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1 µg/kg was used. OTA was detected in seven out of 51 samples of grated hard cheese (concentration range 1.3–22.4 µg/kg), while it was not found in the 33 cheeses of other types which were also analysed. These data show a low risk of OTA contamination for almost all types of cheese analysed. To improve the safety of cheese marketed in grated form, more regulations on cheese rind, which is the part most susceptible to OTA-producing moulds, should be implemented or, alternatively, producers should consider not using the rind as row material for grated cheese. It would be interesting to continue these investigations particularly on grated hard cheeses to have more data to update the risk assessment of OTA in cheese, as also suggested by EFSA in its 2020 scientific opinion on OTA

Gut–brain axis and neurodegeneration : State-of-the-art of meta-omics sciences for microbiota characterization

Recent advances in the field of meta-omics sciences and related bioinformatics tools have allowed a comprehensive investigation of human-associated microbiota and its contribution to achieving and maintaining the homeostatic balance. Bioactive compounds from the microbial community harboring the human gut are involved in a finely tuned network of interconnections with the host, orchestrating a wide variety of physiological processes. These includes the bidirectional crosstalk between the central nervous system, the enteric nervous system, and the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., gut\u2013brain axis). The increasing accumulation of evidence suggest a pivotal role of the composition and activity of the gut microbiota in neurodegeneration. In the present review we aim to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art of meta-omics sciences including metagenomics for the study of microbial genomes and taxa strains, metatranscriptomics for gene expression, metaproteomics and metabolomics to identify and/or quantify microbial proteins and metabolites, respectively. The potential and limitations of each discipline were highlighted, as well as the advantages of an integrated approach (multi-omics) to predict microbial functions and molecular mechanisms related to human diseases. Particular emphasis is given to the latest results obtained with these approaches in an attempt to elucidate the link between the gut microbiota and the most common neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer\u2019s disease (AD), Parkinson\u2019s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)