Protective effect of anti-SUAM antibodies on \u3cem\u3eStreptococcus uberis\u3c/em\u3e mastitis

In the present study, the effect of anti-recombinant Streptococcus uberis adhesion molecule (SUAM) antibodies against S. uberis intramammary infections (IMI) was evaluated using a passive protection model. Mammary quarters of healthy cows were infused with S. uberis UT888 opsonized with affinity purified anti-rSUAM antibodies or hyperimmune sera. Non-opsonized S. uberis UT888 were used as a control. Mammary quarters infused with opsonized S. uberis showed mild-to undetectable clinical symptoms of mastitis, lower milk bacterial counts, and less infected mammary quarters as compared to mammary quarters infused with non-opsonized S. uberis. These findings suggest that anti-rSUAM antibodies interfered with infection of mammary gland by S. uberis which might be through preventing adherence to and internalization into mammary gland cells, thus facilitating clearance of S. uberis, reducing colonization, and causing less IMI

Forage Systems to Optimize Agronomic and Economic Performance in Organic Dairy Systems

Organic dairy production in the USA is growing, but most forage systems research focuses on conventional production practices. As a result, organic dairy producers have limited science-based information to assist with farm and livestock management. The objective of this project was to use a multi-faceted approach to determine the ideal species mixtures for organic dairy production as well as document forage quality, forage yield, soil characteristics, milk production and milk quality during the grazing season. The forages studied ranged from a single species monoculture to a four species mixture of warm and cool season grasses and legumes. Nine distinct forage systems were seeded into small plots at the University of Tennessee and University of Kentucky research farms using organic practices. These plots were monitored for three years for yield, quality, species composition, and soil characteristics. The four best performing forage systems were planted in small paddocks on organic dairy farms in Tennessee and Kentucky to evaluate forage yield, forage quality, seasonality of production, and suitability for on-farm milk production. The superior forage system was established on a 4 ha paddock and compared the existing forage system used by each of the dairy farms. These larger paddocks allowed continued measurements of forage yield and quality, as well as measurements of milk production, milk quality, and grazing behaviour of the animals. The information from this project is currently being incorporated into a total farm management system for organic dairy producers in the Southeastern USA

Steroid receptor coactivator 1 deficiency increases MMTV-neu mediated tumor latency and differentiation specific gene expression, decreases metastasis, and inhibits response to PPAR ligands

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) subgroup of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily is activated by a variety of natural and synthetic ligands. PPARs can heterodimerize with retinoid X receptors, which have homology to other members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Ligand binding to PPAR/RXRs results in recruitment of transcriptional coactivator proteins such as steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1) and CREB binding protein (CBP). Both SRC-1 and CBP are histone acetyltransferases, which by modifying nucleosomal histones, produce more open chromatin structure and increase transcriptional activity. Nuclear hormone receptors can recruit limiting amounts of coactivators from other transcription factor binding sites such as AP-1, thereby inhibiting the activity of AP-1 target genes. PPAR and RXR ligands have been used in experimental breast cancer therapy. The role of coactivator expression in mammary tumorigenesis and response to drug therapy has been the subject of recent studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined the effects of loss of SRC-1 on MMTV-neu mediated mammary tumorigenesis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SRC-1 null mutation in mammary tumor prone mice increased the tumor latency period, reduced tumor proliferation index and metastasis, inhibited response to PPAR and RXR ligands, and induced genes involved in mammary gland differentiation. We also examined human breast cancer cell lines overexpressing SRC-1 or CBP. Coactivator overexpression increased cellular proliferation with resistance to PPAR and RXR ligands and remodeled chromatin of the proximal epidermal growth factor receptor promoter.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results indicate that histone acetyltransferases play key roles in mammary tumorigenesis and response to anti-proliferative therapies.</p

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING AREA: THE ROLE OF THE ITALIAN TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SYSTEM

This paper aims at analysing the current situation in intra-Mediterranean shipping relationships in the perspective of a Renaissance in this strategic economic area. The Mediterranean basin and more especially Italy allow for the establishment of a productive shipping system, with economies of scale typical of maritime transport, namely a new commercial bridge between European Union countries and the emerging countries along the Eastern and Southern shores of this sea would become the link of a shared economic re-birth

LA LOGISTICA COME FATTORE DI SVILUPPO DELL’ECONOMIA REGIONALE. FILIERE TERRITORIALI LOGISTICHE E INTERNAZIONALIZZAZIONE DEI FLUSSI

La logistica rappresenta uno strumento o leva strategica di intervento non solo in termini microeconomici per la competitività del sistema produttivo e distributivo, ma anche in senso macroeconomico ai fini dello sviluppo economico generale e regionale, con azioni tese a favorire il tendenziale incremento degli indicatori fondamentali PIL, valore aggiunto e occupazione. Si presentano, quindi, interessanti opportunità per quei sistemi territoriali che sappiano adeguarsi in maniera flessibile alle dinamiche fortemente variabili dell’economia mondiale ed a proporsi ai grandi player internazionali in modo organizzato ed innovativo attraverso network operativi dalla scala locale a quella globale

Il cluster armatoriale della regione Campania

Il cluster armatoriale della regione Campani

Development and validation of a neural network for the automated detection of horn flies on cattle

When the number of horn flies that blood feed on cattle exceeds the economic threshold, they can adversely affect the health and wellbeing of their hosts. Excessive horn fly burdens also lead to reduced weight gain and, consequently, diminished profits for livestock producers. Effective management and treatment require reliable surveillance methods for estimating the degree of horn fly burden (i.e., counting the number of flies on cattle). Traditionally, these estimates are obtained through human visual estimation, either in-person or by counting images on a photo; however, these methods are costly both in terms of time and labor and are prone to subjectivity and bias. In contrast, automated methods can expedite the counting process and remove subjectivity and bias. To this end, a 2-stage method is presented here that uses computer vision and deep learning to identify the location of flies in digital images. The first stage segments the salient cow from all other parts of the image to remove flies on neighboring cattle from consideration. The second stage processes full-resolution patches of the original image and produces a heat map at the location of flies in the images. The method was trained on a set of 375 human-annotated images and tested on 120 images, where significant variation was observed amongst the human scorers. Counting results are compared to four separate human scorers and demonstrate that the neural network produces consistent results and that the method is reliable. Thus, the developed method can be used for monitoring changes in horn fly populations over time by anyone and allows for increased rigor and repeatability. An examination of individual images where the method was closest to and farthest from the human counts provides valuable insights regarding photographic processes that lead to success and failure

Experimental Staphylococcus aureus Mastitis Infection Model by Teat Dipping in Bacterial Culture Suspension in Dairy Cows

Mastitis is inflammation of mammary glands usually caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Dairy cows are susceptible to mastitis during early dry and transition periods. Effective vaccine is needed during these periods. One of the limitations to develop an effective vaccine against S. aureus is the absence of good infection model. Intramammary infusion (IMIF) with S. aureus has been used as an infection model to test vaccine efficacy. IMIF is reliable in causing mastitis, but it bypasses physical barriers, non-specific natural defenses, and immunity in the teat canal. IMIF also transfers a large number of bacteria into the intramammary area at once. The objective of this study was to develop S. aureus IMIF model that mimics natural infection. Eight Holstein dairy cows were randomly divided into two groups of experimental (n = 5) and control (n = 3) cows. All teats of experimental cows were dipped in S. aureus culture suspension, whereas that of control cows were dipped in phosphate-buffered saline. Results showed that four of five cows were infected with challenge strain by day 3 of the challenge. The remaining cow was infected with Staphylococcus chromogenes. In conclusion, an experimental S. aureus intramammary infection can be induced by teat dipping into bacterial suspension

Antimicrobial Resistance of Major Bacterial Pathogens from Dairy Cows with High Somatic Cell Count and Clinical Mastitis

Mastitis is the most prevalent and economically important disease caused by different etiological agents, which leads to increased somatic cell count (SCC) and low milk quality. Treating mastitis cases with antimicrobials is essential to reduce SCC and improve milk quality. Non-prudent use of antimicrobials in dairy farms increased the development of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. This study&rsquo;s objectives were (1) to isolate and identify etiological agents of mastitis and (2) to determine antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial isolates. A total of 174 quarter milk samples from 151 cows with high SCC and clinical mastitis from 34 dairy farms in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi were collected. Bacterial causative agents were determined by bacteriological and biochemical tests. The antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates against 10 commonly used antimicrobials was tested. A total of 193 bacteria consisting of six bacterial species, which include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant isolate followed by Strep. spp., E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. Results of this study showed that Gram-negatives (E. coli and Klebsiella spp.) were more resistant than Gram-positives (Staph. aureus and Streptococcus spp.). Continuous antimicrobial resistance testing and identification of reservoirs of resistance traits in dairy farms are essential to implement proper mitigation measures