Protective effects of antiâ C5a peptide antibodies in experimental sepsis

We evaluated antibodies to different peptide regions of rat C5a in the sepsis model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) for their protective effects in rats. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies were developed to the following peptide regions of rat C5a: aminoâ terminal region (A), residues 1â 16; middle region (M), residues 17â 36; and the carboxylâ terminal region (C), residues 58â 77. With rat neutrophils, the chemotactic activity of rat C5a was significantly inhibited by antibodies with the following rank order: antiâ C > antiâ M â « antiâ A. In vivo, antibodies to the M and C (but not A) regions of C5a were protective in experimental sepsis, as determined by survival over a 10â day period, in a doseâ dependent manner. The relative protective efficacies of antiâ C5a preparations (in descending order of efficacy) were antiâ C â ¥ antiâ M â « antiâ A. In CLP rats, a delay in infusion of antibodies, which were injected at 6 or 12 h after CLP, still resulted in significant improvement in survival rates. These in vivo and in vitro data suggest that there are optimal targets on C5a for blockade during sepsis and that delayed infusion of antiâ C5a antibody until after onset of clinical evidence of sepsis still provides protective effects.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154417/1/fsb2fj000653fje-sup-0001.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154417/2/fsb2fj000653fje.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154417/3/fsb2fj000653fje-sup-0002.pd

Seasonal development of apothecia of the cereal eyespot pathogen Tapesia yallundae on straw stubble in the UK

Five field sites growing winter wheat were inoculated with isolates of the W- and R-types of Tapesia yallundae in 1990 and 1991. After harvest, plots of uncultivated stubble were monitored for the production of apothecia during 1992 and 1993. Apothecia were found on the stem bases of straw stubble over a 9-month period from mid-October to July, but with a peak in numbers present during late January to March, 5 to 7 months after harvest. This was associated with mean monthly temperatures between 3 degrees C and 8 degrees C. Rainfall appeared to be less important than temperature in apothecial development. Single ascospore isolates obtained from apothecia collected from areas inoculated with W-, R-, or mixed W- and R-type isolates all produced colonies with morphologies and growth rates characteristic of the W-type. Thus there was no indication that the W- and R-types are sexually compatible