Field study on bovine paratuberculosis using real-time PCR and liquid culture for testing environmental and individual fecal samples implemented in dairy cow management.

Bovine paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) is a bacterial, chronic, and wasting intestinal disease caused by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Johne's disease causes severe losses in dairy farm productivity and is also suspected to be a potential trigger for Crohn's disease in humans. The fecal-oral infection of MAP to neonates is recognized as an important within-herd transmission route. Our objective was to recommend diagnostic methods for herds with suspected paratuberculosis requiring fast results, as well as for herds with breeding programs or others that aim at being nonsuspected of paratuberculosis infection. We determined a period of 8 wk from sampling to diagnostic findings suitable for testing of cows during the dry period. We therefore tested environmental and individual fecal samples with one rapid and one highly sensitive diagnostic method. Environmental samples (boot swabs) were taken as a first step in 3 herds and tested using a DNA extraction protocol for feces and subsequent real-time PCR (referred to as fecal PCR). Additionally, cultivation in liquid medium for 6 wk was performed and verified with real-time PCR (referred to as liquid culture). Automation of DNA extraction based on magnetic beads and the PCR setup was performed with pipetting robots. As a result, we successfully detected MAP in boot swabs of all herds by both methods. In a second step, 245 individual fecal samples from the 3 herds were examined using also fecal PCR and liquid culture. The results obtained by fecal PCR were compared with detection of MAP using cultivation in liquid medium for 6 wk. Testing individual cows, we identified MAP-specific DNA in 53 fecal samples using the liquid culture. Using fecal PCR, we revealed 43 positive samples of which 39 also tested positive in the liquid culture, revealing MAP-positive cows in all 3 herds. The fecal PCR procedure allows rapid detection of MAP-specific DNA with 74% of the sensitivity of liquid culture. For the purpose of testing with maximal sensitivity, cultivation in liquid medium is recommended. Cultivation of MAP in liquid medium M7H9C means a significant time gain in comparison to cultivation on solid media, which requires twice as much time. Thus, this testing fits within the 6- to 8-wk dry period of gravid cows and provides test results before calving, a prerequisite to prevent fecal-oral transmission to newborn calves.

Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in faeces using different procedures of pre-treatment for real-time PCR in comparison to culture.

One of the most relevant aspects in the diagnosis of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) in cattle is the availability of a method for the rapid and sensitive detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in order to facilitate the prompt removal of pathogen-shedding animals from a herd. To meet this requirement, methods for pre-treatment of bovine faecal samples and subsequent extraction of DNA for detection of MAP by real-time PCR were compared with MAP culture results. A total of 116 bovine faecal samples that showed weak (64.7%), moderate (18.1%) or strong (17.2%) growth of MAP on solid HEY medium were investigated. For PCR, supernatants, sediments or bacterial pellets were obtained from faecal samples by pre-treatment before extraction of MAP DNA based on silica membranes or magnetic particles. Samples then were tested by MAP IS900 and ISMav2 real-time PCR with an analytical sensitivity of 6 and 28 genome equivalents (GE) per mL, respectively. The best results were obtained by including a microfiltration step in the sample pre-treatment in combination with silica membrane-based mini-columns or magnetic particles for DNA extraction. This approach enhanced the detection rate of MAP in IS900 real-time PCR from 58.6% to 84.5% using silica membrane mini-columns and from 61.2% to 64.7% using magnetic particles.

Beneficial effect of the insulin sensitizer (HSP inducer) BGP-15 on olanzapine-induced metabolic disorders.

Olanzapine is a widely used atypical antipsychotic, with well known metabolic side effects such as weight gain, insulin resistance and blood glucose abnormalities. It has been previously shown in a phase II clinical trial that BGP-15, an amidoxim derivative has insulin-sensitizing effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of BGP-15 for the treatment of olanzapine-induced metabolic side effects, in healthy volunteers. Thirty-seven (37) subjects (ages 18-55 years) with normal glucose metabolism were randomly assigned to 17 days of once-daily treatment with 400mg of BGP-15 or placebo and 5mg of olanzapine for 3 days followed by 10mg for 14 days. Total body and muscle tissue glucose utilization was determined by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. As expected the 17-day olanzapine treatment provoked insulin resistance and body weight gain (p<0.05) in both groups. Administration of BGP-15 significantly reduced olanzapine-induced insulin resistance. The protective effect of BGP-15 on insulin stimulated glucose utilization had the highest magnitude in the values calculated for the muscle tissue (p=0.002). In healthy individuals BGP-15 was safe and well tolerated during the whole study period. It is suggested that BGP-15 can be a successful insulin sensitizer agent to prevent side effects of olanzapine treatment.

Comparative characterization of experimental and calculated lipophilicity and anti-tumour activity of isochromanone derivatives.

Compound lipophilicity connected to ADME(T)(a) has great importance in drug development and it has to be evaluated by the generally used drug developmental process. In addition to the importance of lipophilicity in ADMET, recently it has been reported that lipophilicity of small molecules correlates with their antiproliferative activity because of certain specific hydrophobic and lipophilic interactions. Due to the complexity of ADME(T) parameters an efficient and fast method is needed to characterize the many promising candidate lead molecules as a preselection in order not to be rejected from the latter phase of drug development. In the present paper we provide an overview of the importance of lipophilicity of drug candidates for biological action and for ADME(T) and describe a novel approach for drug-likeness characterization of a molecular library using correlation study between lipophilicity and biological activity. Lipophilicity and molecular characteristics have been measured, predicted and optimized for a diverse library from which the best members have been selected to describe their biological, chemical and drug-likeness properties. Molecules were selected from the family of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and thorough HPLC characterization for lipophilicity and morphological, antiproliferative and flow cytometric studies were carried out on them. Based on the results 17 member isochromanone library including E and Z geometric isomers were selected for further characterization. In this focused library linear correlation has been found between the calculated and measured lipophilicity and significant parabolic correlation was found between the antiproliferative effect and lipophilicity. Using our efficient and fast method, from a diverse library, we identified an outstandingly effective inhibitor of A431 tumour cell growth via a PARP(a) cleavage dependent apoptosis. In summary the optimized HPLC analyses of lipophilicity combined with the cell-culture assay, introduced above, resulted in the determination of an optimal lipophilicity range. This optimized lipophilicity range should be used in designing novel antiproliferative compounds.

Vitamin C: update on physiology and pharmacology.

Although ascorbic acid is an important water-soluble antioxidant and enzyme cofactor in plants and animals, humans and some other species do not synthesize ascorbate due to the lack of the enzyme catalyzing the final step of the biosynthetic pathway, and for them it has become a vitamin. This review focuses on the role of ascorbate in various hydroxylation reactions and in the redox homeostasis of subcellular compartments including mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Recently discovered functions of ascorbate in nucleic acid and histone dealkylation and proteoglycan deglycanation are also summarized. These new findings might delineate a role for ascorbate in the modulation of both pro- and anti-carcinogenic mechanisms. Recent advances and perspectives in therapeutic applications are also reviewed. On the basis of new and earlier observations, the advantages of the lost ability to synthesize ascorbate are pondered. The increasing knowledge of the functions of ascorbate and of its molecular sites of action can mechanistically substantiate a place for ascorbate in the treatment of various diseases.

Improvement of insulin sensitivity by a novel drug, BGP-15, in insulin-resistant patients: a proof of concept randomized double-blind clinical trial.

The efficacy and safety of the new drug, BGP-15, were compared with placebo in insulin-resistant patients in a 28-day dose-ranging study. Forty-seven nondiabetic patients with impaired glucose tolerance were randomly assigned to 4 weeks of treatment with 200 or 400 mg of BGP-15 or placebo. Insulin resistance was determined by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique and homeostasis model assessment method, and beta-cell function was measured by intravenous glucose tolerance test. Each BGP-15 dose significantly increased whole body insulin sensitivity (M-1, p=0.032), total body glucose utilization (M-2, p=0.035), muscle tissue glucose utilization (M-3, p=0.040), and fat-free body mass glucose utilization (M-4, p=0.038) compared to baseline and placebo. No adverse drug effects were observed during treatment. BGP-15 at 200 or 400 mg significantly improved insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant, nondiabetic patients during treatment compared to placebo and was safe and well-tolerated. This was the first clinical study demonstrating the insulin-sensitizing effect of a molecule, which is considered as a co-inducer of heat shock proteins.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress underlying the pro-apoptotic effect of epigallocatechin gallate in mouse hepatoma cells.

It has been recently reported that tea flavanols, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), efficiently inhibit glucosidase II in liver microsomes. Since glucosidase II plays a central role in glycoprotein processing and quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum we investigated the possible contribution of endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) to the pro-apoptotic activity of EGCG in mouse hepatoma cells. The enzyme activity measurements using 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-d-glucopyranoside substrate confirmed the inhibition of glucosidase II in intact and alamethicin-permeabilized cells. EGCG treatment caused a progressive elevation of apoptotic activity as assessed by annexin staining. The induction of CHOP/GADD153, the cleavage of procaspase-12 and the increasing phosphorylation of eIF2alpha were revealed in these cells by Western blot analysis while the induction of endoplasmic reticulum chaperones and foldases was not observed. Time- and concentration-dependent depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores was also demonstrated in the EGCG-treated cells by single-cell fluorescent detection. The massive alterations in the endoplasmic reticulum morphology revealed by fluorescent microscopy further supported the development of UPR. Collectively, our results indicate that EGCG interferes with protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum presumably due to inhibition of glucosidase II and that the stress induces an incomplete unfolded protein response with dominantly pro-apoptotic components.

Understanding the transmission dynamics of respiratory syncytial virus using multiple time series and nested models.

The nature and role of re-infection and partial immunity are likely to be important determinants of the transmission dynamics of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV). We propose a single model structure that captures four possible host responses to infection and subsequent reinfection: partial susceptibility, altered infection duration, reduced infectiousness and temporary immunity (which might be partial). The magnitude of these responses is determined by four homotopy parameters, and by setting some of these parameters to extreme values we generate a set of eight nested, deterministic transmission models. In order to investigate hRSV transmission dynamics, we applied these models to incidence data from eight international locations. Seasonality is included as cyclic variation in transmission. Parameters associated with the natural history of the infection were assumed to be independent of geographic location, while others, such as those associated with seasonality, were assumed location specific. Models incorporating either of the two extreme assumptions for immunity (none or solid and lifelong) were unable to reproduce the observed dynamics. Model fits with either waning or partial immunity to disease or both were visually comparable. The best fitting structure was a lifelong partial immunity to both disease and infection. Observed patterns were reproduced by stochastic simulations using the parameter values estimated from the deterministic models.

Opposite effect of linearly polarized light on biosynthesis of interleukin-6 in a human B lymphoid cell line and peripheral human monocytes.

The effects of linearly polarized light (LPL) and diffuse light (DL) on the in vitro interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in a human B lymphoma cell line (BMNH) and peripheral monocytes of healthy volunteers were compared. Our data show that there was a significant increase of IL-6 and IgM production in BMNH after exposure to LPL. The increase in IgM secretion was a consequence of its autocrine regulation by IL-6, since in the presence of anti-IL-6 and anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies the LPL-induced IgM secretion was abolished. In contrast to the stimulatory effect on B cells, exposure of human mononuclear phagocytes to LPL markedly reduced the production of IL-6 induced by subsequent stimulation of cells with bacterial endotoxin (LPS). The inhibition as most pronounced when suboptimal doses of LPS were applied. Under identical experimental conditions, DL had no effect on the IL-6 and IgM production of either B cells or monocytes.

The regulation of the induction of vascular endothelial growth factor at the onset of diabetes in spontaneously diabetic rats.

Early induction of VEGF was studied in liver, kidney and lung of spontaneously diabetic rats. Western blot analysis, northern hybridization were applied to show the expression of VEGF in different organs. Radiolabelled hypoxia responsive element (HRE) and cAMP responsive element (CRE) oligonucleotides were assayed by electrophoretic mobility shift (EMSA) or supershift using anti ARNT and anti CREB-1 monoclonal antibodies. An increase in VEGF expression at the level of protein and mRNA was demonstrated at the beginning of the disease. EMSAs showed: a.) a binding of HIF-1 to HRE and/or CRE, b.) in the same time the binding of CREB- I was detected to both HRE and/or CRE sequences in the liver, kidney and lung of diabetic animals. Based on these in vivo observations it is supposed that HRE and CRE through the interaction between HIF-1 and CREB-1 are equally involved in the regulation of VEGF expression at the onset of diabetes.

Ryanodine receptor channel-dependent glutathione transport in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle.

We found that glutathione transport across endo/sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes correlates with the abundance of ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1). The transport was the fastest in muscle terminal cisternae, fast in muscle microsomes and slow in liver, heart, and brain microsomes. Glutathione influx could be inhibited by RyR1 blockers and the inhibitory effect was counteracted by RyR1 agonists. The effect of blockers was specific to glutathione, as the transport of other small molecules was not hindered. Therefore, the glutathione transport activity seems to be associated with RyR1 in sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The hepatic glycogenoreticular system.

One of the major liver functions is the ability of hepatocytes to store glucose in the form of glycogen for various purposes. Beside glucose production and secretion, the synthesis of glucuronides and ascorbate has been reported to be dependent on the extent of the glycogen stores and on the rate of glycogenolysis in the liver. It is common that the final steps of these pathways are catalysed by intraluminally orientated enzymes of the endoplasmic reticulum, which are supported by transporters for the permeation of substrates and products. On the basis of the close morphological and functional proximity of glycogen, glycogen-dependent pathways and the (smooth) endoplasmic reticulum we propose to use the term glycogenoreticular system for the description of this export-orientated hepatocyte-specific metabolic unit.

Role of vitamin E in ascorbate-dependent protein thiol oxidation in rat liver endoplasmic reticulum.

Addition of ascorbate or its generation from gulonolactone causes the oxidation of protein thiols and a simultaneous dehydroascorbate formation in rat liver microsomes. The participation of vitamin E in the phenomenon was studied. We measured ascorbate and protein thiol oxidation and lipid peroxidation in vitamin E deficient liver microsomes. Vitamin E deficiency partly uncoupled the two processes: ascorbate oxidation increased, while protein thiol oxidation decreased. These changes were accompanied with an accelerated lipid peroxidation in the vitamin E-deficient microsomes, which indicates the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. All these effects were reduced by the in vitro addition of vitamin E to the deficient microsomes, supporting its direct role in the process. The results demonstrate that vitamin E is a component of the protein thiol oxidizing machinery in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum transferring electrons from the thiol groups towards oxygen.

Protein-disulfide isomerase- and protein thiol-dependent dehydroascorbate reduction and ascorbate accumulation in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum.

The transport and intraluminal reduction of dehydroascorbate was investigated in microsomal vesicles from various tissues. The highest rates of transport and intraluminal isotope accumulation (using radiolabeled compound and a rapid filtration technique) were found in hepatic microsomes. These microsomes contain the highest amount of protein-disulfide isomerase, which is known to have a dehydroascorbate reductase activity. The steady-state level of intraluminal isotope accumulation was more than 2-fold higher in hepatic microsomes prepared from spontaneously diabetic BioBreeding/Worcester rats and was very low in fetal hepatic microsomes although the initial rate of transport was not changed. In these microsomes, the amount of protein-disulfide isomerase was similar, but the availability of protein thiols was different and correlated with dehydroascorbate uptake. The increased isotope accumulation was accompanied by a higher rate of dehydroascorbate reduction and increased protein thiol oxidation in microsomes from diabetic animals. The results suggest that both the activity of protein-disulfide isomerase and the availability of protein thiols as reducing equivalents can play a crucial role in the accumulation of ascorbate in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. These findings also support the fact that dehydroascorbate can act as an oxidant in the protein-disulfide isomerase-catalyzed protein disulfide formation.

Transcriptional induction of bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransrase by ethanol in rat liver.

Several drug-metabolizing enzymes including bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) are influenced by long-term ethanol consumption. In the present study, the activity and expression of UGT1A1 were investigated in livers of ethanol-treated rats. Animals were treated daily for 15 days with ethanol or isocaloric amount of glucose solution by gastric intubation. Microsomes and total RNA were prepared from the liver of rats and analyzed by Western blot and Northern hybridization using UGT1A1 specific antibody and cDNA probe. Microsomal bilirubin UGT activity was also measured. The elevation of UGT1A1 mRNA was observed in the liver of ethanol consumer animals with the simultaneous increase in microsomal UGT1A1 protein leading to stimulated bilirubin glucuronidation both in vivo and in microsomal vesicles. These results arise the possibility of the transcriptional induction and/or the mRNA stabilization by ethanol consumption, which can be caused by ethanol itself or the metabolic changes due to the treatment.

Ascorbate oxidation is a prerequisite for its transport into rat liver microsomal vesicles.

Oxidation and uptake of ascorbate show similar time courses in rat liver microsomal vesicles: a rapid burst phase is followed by a slower process. Inhibitors of ascorbate oxidation (proadifen, econazole or quercetin) also effectively decreased the uptake of ascorbate. The results show that dehydroascorbate is the transport form of ascorbate at the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Beta-glucuronidase latency in isolated murine hepatocytes.

The physiological function of microsomal beta-glucuronidase is unclear. Substrates may be either glucuronides produced in the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or those taken up by hepatocytes. In the latter case, efficient inward transport of glucuronides at the plasma membrane and the ER membrane would be required. Therefore, the potential role of beta-glucuronidase in ER was investigated. Isolated mouse hepatocytes and mouse and rat liver microsomal vesicles were used in the experiments. Selective permeabilization of the plasma membrane of isolated hepatocytes with saponin or digitonin resulted in an almost 4-fold elevation in the rate of beta-nitrophenol glucuronide hydrolysis, while the permeabilization of plasma membrane plus ER membrane by Triton X-100 caused a further 2-fold elevation. In microsomal vesicles, the p-nitrophenol glucuronide or phenolphthalein glucuronide beta-glucuronidase activity showed about 50% latency as revealed by alamethicin or Triton X-100 treatment. A light-scattering study indicated that the microsomes are relatively impermeable to both glucuronides and to glucuronate. On the basis of our results, the role of liver microsomal beta-glucuronidase in the deconjugation of glucuronides taken up by the liver seems unlikely. Hydrolysis of the glucuronides produced in the ER lumen may play a role in substrate supply for ascorbate synthesis or in "proofreading" of glucuronidation.

[Coxiella burnetii infections and infections with bacteria of the genus Chlamydia in dairy cattle]. / Untersuchungen zu Coxiella burnetii-Infektionen und Infektionen mit Bakterien der Gattung Chlamydia in Milchviehbetrieben.

Comparative studies on the prevalence of infections caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) and Chlamydia were carried out with 592 cattle older than 2 years and 234 cattle younger than 2 years. Of these 477 originated from 24 dairy herds with considerable fertility problems (positive herds) and 349 from 14 dairy herds without major fertility problems (control herds). For the direct detection of these pathogens in the genitals capture ELISAs were employed, for the demonstration of antibodies the complement fixation test (CFT). Direct detection of C. burnetii and Chlamydia single as well as mixed infection revealed significant higher values for cattle from positive herds compared with those from the control herds. Animals revealing insemination ratios of > or = 2 showed significantly more frequent excretion of Chlamydia via the genitals and antibodies against C. burnetii than cattle with an insemination ratio of < 2. Investigations of cows which had had an abortion showed no indications of significantly more frequent C. burnetii or chlamydial infections. Inseminated but non-pregnant cows excreted significantly more C. burnetii and Chlamydia than pregnant cows. Clinical signs of endometritis were associated with an enhanced excretion of Chlamydia. Animals younger than 2 years excreted significantly more frequently C. burnetii but not Chlamydia via the genitals than animals older than 2 years. Indirect test showed results vice versa.

Different induction of gulonolactone oxidase in aromatic hydrocarbon-responsive or -unresponsive mouse strains.

The role of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated signal transduction pathways was investigated in the regulation of ascorbate synthesis by using Ah-responsive and Ah-unresponsive mouse strains. In vivo 3-methylcholanthrene treatment increased hepatic and plasma ascorbate concentrations only in the Ah-responsive strain. The mRNA level of gulonolactone oxidase and the microsomal ascorbate production from p-nitrophenyl glucuronide, D-glucuronic acid or gulonolactone in the liver of Ah-responsive and Ah-unresponsive mice were compared. In Ah-responsive mice, these parameters were higher originally, and they further increased upon in vivo addition of 3-methylcholanthrene, while in Ah-unresponsive mice the treatment was not effective. These results suggest that the transcription of gulonolactone oxidase gene is regulated by an Ah receptor-dependent signal transduction pathway.