Fc engineered ACE2-Fc is a potent multifunctional agent targeting SARS-CoV2

Joining a function-enhanced Fc-portion of human IgG to the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 produces an antiviral decoy with strain transcending virus neutralizing activity. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and Fc-effector functions of ACE2-Fc decoy proteins, formatted with or without the ACE2 collectrin domain, were optimized by Fc-modification. The different Fc-modifications resulted in distinct effects on neutralization and effector functions. H429Y, a point mutation outside the binding sites for FcγRs or complement caused non-covalent oligomerization of the ACE2-Fc decoy proteins, abrogated FcγR interaction and enhanced SARS-CoV-2 neutralization. Another Fc mutation, H429F did not improve virus neutralization but resulted in increased C5b-C9 fixation and transformed ACE2-Fc to a potent mediator of complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) expressing cells. Furthermore, modification of the Fc-glycan enhanced cell activation via FcγRIIIa. These different immune profiles demonstrate the capacity of Fc-based agents to be engineered to optimize different mechanisms of protection for SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other viral pathogens

Effects of DDGS as a replacement for SBM in Boer grower rations

With the U.S. goat industry, up 211%, from 1.25 million head in 2002 to 2.64 million head in 2017, goat producers and the industry are looking for a new cost effective way of feeding. Other research projects have shown great results of feeding DDGS to sheep, but there is very limited data for goat producers to base recommendations for potential inclusion of DDGS in a goat diet. Thus, the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the efficacy of DDGS as a replacement for soybean meal(SBM) in a Boer goat diet. During this 47 day trial, 48 meat goat kids (approximately 70 d of age) were housed at the Kansas State University Sheep and Meat Goat Center with 3 goats per pen and 4 pens per treatment. The goats were separated into one of the four experimental diets: 1) 0% SBM replaced by DDGS; 2) 33% SBM replaced by DDGS; 3) 66% SBM replaced by DDGS; and 4) 100% SBM replaced by DDGS. All four diets were pelleted, which contained roughages, thus no supplemental forage was needed. Goats and feeders were weighed weekly to determine ADG, ADFI, and G:F. At the conclusion of the experiment, two goats out of each pen were taken to a USDA inspected facility to be slaughtered and to collect carcass data. All data was analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with pen serving as the experimental unit and 0.05 as the alpha value. In conclusion, the treatments did not affect(P>0.10) ADG or ADFI, but did impact (P>0.005) G:F. This was due to a linear improvement (P0.10) of DDGS on hot carcass weight, yield, loin eye area, or fat depth at the 13th rib. In summary, goats can be fed DDGS without detrimental growth or carcass effects