Effect of gamma-irradiated honey bee venom on blood parameter and histopathological observations of liver and kidney in a mice animal model.

Honey bee venom is a valuable product with a wide range of biological effects, whose use is rapidly increasing in apitherapy. In this study, the effect of gamma-irradiated honey bee venom (doses of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kGy, volume of 0.1 ml, and concentration of 0.2 mg/ml) was evaluated on median lethal dose (LD50) determinations, liver and kidney histology, biochemical marker level, and serum protein analyses. Hence, the LD50 induced by the honey bee venom irradiated at 4, 6, and 8 kGy was increased, compared with the one at 0 and 2 kGy. Normal histology was observed in the liver and kidney of the mice receiving the honey bee venom irradiated at 4, 6, and 8 kGy. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and all serum proteins were reduced at 4, 6, and 8 kGy compared with 0 and 2 kGy. Therefore, gamma irradiation at 4, 6, and 8 kGy had no negative effect on LD50, liver and kidney tissues, ALT, and serum protein levels by decreasing the allergen compounds of the honey bee venom.

Inflammatory genes expression and calf responses to different dietary grains (steam flaked corn vs steam-rolled barley) and protein sources (pelleted soybean meal vs pelleted canola meal).

This study aimed to investigate the effects of grains, and protein sources in the starter diet on daily gain, pro- and anti-inflammatory genes expression, ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, and blood metabolites in the dairy calves. Forty Holstein calves were randomly assigned to treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with the factors of grain source (steam-flaked corn, CG vs. steam-rolled barley, BG) and pelleted protein source (soybean meal, SBM vs. canola meal, CM). The daily gain of calves who fed with SBM was higher than those fed with CM. Total VFA concentration in the rumen of calves fed with CG was greater than BG at day 35 (p < 0.05), and calves receiving SBM had higher total VFA concentration than calves fed with CM. The relative expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß genes were significantly decreased in the calves fed with BG and CM compared to calves fed with CG and SBM. Calves receiving the starter diet based on BG had the highest (p < 0.05) gene expression of interferon-γ. Feeding calves with SBM is recommended because it resulted in a greater daily gain than CM. Complete replacement of SBM with CM, and CG with BG is not recommended in dairy calves.

Effect of gamma-irradiated honey bee venom on gene expression of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in mice.

In this study, the effect of gamma-irradiated honey bee venom (doses of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kGy, volume of 0.1 ml and concentration of 0.2 mg/ml) was evaluated on the reduction of allergen compounds and the gene expression of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in mice. Hence, edema activity induced by the bee venom irradiated at 4, 6, and 8 kGy was reduced, compared with the control group and that irradiated at 2 kGy. In contrast, the paw edema induced by the bee venom irradiated at 8 kGy increased, compared with 4 and 6 kGy. At all the time periods, there was a significant decrease in the gene expression of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in the bee venoms irradiated at 4, 6, and 8 kGy, compared with the control group and that irradiated at 2 kGy. In contrast, there was an increase in the gene expression of IFN-γ and IL-6 in the bee venom irradiated at 8 kGy, compared with those irradiated at 4 and 6 kGy. Therefore, gamma irradiation at 4 and 6 kGy reduced the gene expression of cytokines at each time period by decreasing the allergen compounds of honey bee venom.

Improved Whole Gamma Irradiated Avian Influenza Subtype H9N2 Virus Vaccine Using Trehalose and Optimization of Vaccination Regime on Broiler Chicken.

Gamma (γ)-radiation can target viral genome replication and preserve viral structural proteins compared to formalin inactivation. Thus, a stronger immunity could be induced after the inoculation of the irradiated virus. In this study, γ-irradiated low-pathogenic avian influenza virus-H9N2 (LPAIV-H9N2) was used to immunize the broiler chicken in two formulations, including γ-irradiated LPAIV-H9N2 with 20% Trehalose intranasally (IVT.IN) or γ-irradiated LPAIV-H9N2 plus Montanide oil adjuvant ISA70 subcutaneously (IV+ISA.SC) in comparison with formalin-inactivated LPAIV-H9N2 vaccine intranasally (FV.IN) or formalin-inactivated LPAIV-H9N2 plus ISA70 subcutaneously (FV+ISA.SC). Two vaccination regimes were employed; the first one was primed on day 1 and boosted on day 15 (early regime), and the second one was primed on day 11 and boosted on day 25 (late regime). A challenge test was performed with a live homologous subtype virus. Virus shedding was monitored by quantifying the viral load via RT-qPCR on tracheal and cloacal swabs. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titration and stimulation index (SI) of the splenic lymphocyte proliferation were measured, respectively, by HI test and Cell Proliferation assay. Cytokine assay was conducted by the RT-qPCR on antigen-stimulated spleen cells. The results of the HI test showed significant increases in antibody titer in all vaccinated groups, but it was more evident in the IVT late vaccination regime, reaching 5.33 log2. The proliferation of stimulated spleen lymphocytes was upregulated more in the IVT.IN vaccine compared to other vaccines. The mRNA transcription levels of T-helper type 1 cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) were upregulated in all vaccinated groups at the late regime. Moreover, IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine was upregulated as well. However, upregulation was more noticeable in the early vaccination than the late vaccination (p< 0.05). After the challenge, the monitoring of virus shedding for the H9 gene represented an extremely low viral load. The body weight loss was not significant (p > 0.05) among the vaccinated groups. In addition, the viral load of <100.5 TCID50/ml in the vaccinated chicken indicated the protective response for all the vaccines. Accordingly, the IVT vaccine is a good candidate for the immunization of broiler chicken via the intranasal route at late regime.

Immune Response of Salmonella Challenged Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Containing Gallipro®, a Bacillus subtilis Probiotic.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding a probiotic, Bacillus subtilis, on antibody titers against Newcastle and infectious bursal viruses in broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis. One hundred and sixty 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments in a completely randomized design. The treatments were negative control, probiotic-treated group, challenged group, and challenged probiotic treated group. Salmonella challenging decreased (P < 0.05) the relative weights of spleen and bursa. Inclusion of probiotic to diet of challenged chickens increased the relative weight of spleen, but had no effect on the relative weight of bursa. There were no differences for the antibody titers of chickens between negative control and probiotic-treated group. Salmonella challenging decreased (P < 0.05) antibody titers against Newcastle and infectious bursal viruses. Improvements in the antibody titers were observed by the addition of probiotic to diet of these chickens. The results showed that dietary inclusion of probiotic had no significant effect on immune parameters of chickens at non-contaminated environment, display a greater efficacy at environment contaminated with pathogen and can improve immune responses of infected chickens.