Individual progress interviews as a method of effective student feedback

Level 3 students on the Microbiology/Parasitology/Virology/Infection Biology degree course at the University of Glasgow are given a 15 minute interview by a member of staff, early in Term 2. The students bring their portfolio of assessed work with them and their progress and utilisation of the feedback received is reviewed. Advice is given on how they can improve their grades and individual targets set. The atmosphere is encouraging and supportive and students appreciate the individual attention they are given. Although very demanding of staff time, the interviews are felt to be an excellent way of providing feedback and support to students

The effect of reconstitution with cryopreserved thymocytes on thein vivoantibody response to sheep red blood cells, Aeromonas salmonicida, and DNP-KLH, in adult long term thymectomised rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The effect of long term adult thymectomy, and subsequent reconstitution with autogenic cryopreserved thymocytes, on thein vivoantibody response to the thymus dependent (TD) antigens (DNP-KLH and SRBC) and thymus independent (TI) antigen (A. salmonicida) was examined in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss. Thymectomy eight months prior to primary immunis-ation led to a reduced secondary response to SRBC and DNP-KLH, which was partly restored when the fish were reconstituted with their own cryopreserved thymocytes one week before secondary immunisation. In contrast eight month thymectomy produced an elevated secondary antibody response toA. salmonicida. This again was partly returned to control levels by reconstitution with the fish's autogenic cryopreserved thymocytes one week prior to secondary immunisation. The data provide evidence for a T-helper cell population, involved in the memory response to TD antigens, and for T-suppressor cell activity to TI antigens

Effects of dietary (n-3) and (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio on the immune response of Atlantic salmon, <i>Salmo salar</i> L.

To examine the influence of the dietary ratio of (n-3) to (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the immune system of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., two dietary trials were carried out in which parr were maintained on diets containing either fish oil [(n-3)/(n-6) PUFA = 5.2] or sunflower oil [(n-3)/(n-6) PUFA = 0.3] and assessed for differences in immunological parameters. There were no significant differences in blood cell counts, differential leucocyte counts or haematocrit values between dietary groups, and while no apparent differences were observed in the non-specific immune parameters measured, there was a significantly higher number of B cells responding to Aeromonas salmonicida, in the kidney and spleen of vaccinated fish maintained on high (n-3)/(n-6) PUFAs diets. There was also a significant difference (P≤ 0.01) between the dietary groups in trial 1 and trial 2 when non-vaccinated fish were challenged with Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum, respectively, with the (n-6) group succumbing to the bacterium before the (n-3) group. The results suggest that Atlantic salmon fed diets with a low ratio of (n-3)/(n-6) PUFA may be less resistant to infection than those fed diets containing lipid with a high (n-3)/(n-6) PUFA ratio

Uptake of <i>Vibrio anguillarum</i> vaccine by <i>Artemia salina</i> as a potential oral delivery system to fish fry

An ELISA to detect Vibrio anguillarum antigen in Artemia salina was developed. This assay was then used to determine the time course of antigen uptake by Artemia during incubations with Vibrio vaccine with a view to using Artemia as a vaccine carrier for oral vaccination of fish fry. The rate of uptake of vaccine by Artemia was shown to be concentration dependent. At a dose of 1.5x107 cfu ml-1, 1 mg wet weight of Artemia took up 1x105 cfu within 30min and reached maximum of 6x106 cfu after 60min. Thus each Artemia appears to have taken up approximately 1.2x105 cfu. Comparison of vaccine formulations indicated that uptake was consistently higher with formalised than with heat-treated vaccine

Antibacterial proteins in rainbow trout, <i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>

Antibacterial proteins are an important part of the innate immune system for all animals. They have been extensively studied in mammals, amphibians and invertebrates, but have received only scant attention in fish. Their expression and processing, however, provide a way of monitoring defence vigour during development or with seasonal changes in physiology. The aim of the present work was to identify and characterise antibacterial proteins in rainbow trout. In vitro analyses of extracts of the peripheral blood leucocytes, head kidney leucocytes and mucus from adult unstimulated (non-immune) fish showed marked antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria. Fractionation by ion exchange chromatography and RP-HPLC of head kidney extracts showed the presence of two forms of lysozyme but no constitutively expressed antimicrobial proteins of &#60;10 kDa. By contrast, chromatographic analyses of mucus revealed at least four antibacterial proteins. Two are conventional lysozymes, a third is an unusual lysozyme-like protein with a low isoelectric point, and the fourth is a highly hydrophobic, cationic peptide of c. 3 kDa