Efficacy of mucosal vaccination using a protozoan parasite as a vehicle for antigen delivery: IgG and neutralizing response after rectal administration of LeCoVax-2, a candidate vaccine against COVID-19.

Mucosal vaccination is regarded as a promising alternative to classical, intramuscular vaccine delivery. However, only a limited number of vaccines have been licensed for mucosal administration in humans. Here we propose Leishmania tarentolae, a protozoan parasite, as a potential antigen vehicle for mucosal vaccination, for administration via the rectal or oral routes. To test this hypothesis, we exploited L. tarentolae for the production and delivery of SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Two antigens were assayed in BALB/c mice: Lt-spike, a L. tarentolae clone engineered for the surface expression of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein; RBD-SD1, a purified portion of the spike protein, produced by another engineered clone of the protozoon. Immune response parameters were then determined at different time points. Both antigens, administered either separately or in combination (Lt-spike + RBD-SD1, hereafter LeCoVax-2), determined significant IgG seroconversion and production of neutralizing antibodies after subcutaneous administration, but only in the presence of adjuvants. After rectal administration, the purified RBD-SD1 antigen did not induce any detectable immune response, in comparison with the intense response observed after administration of LeCoVax-2 or Lt-spike alone. In rectal administration, LeCoVax-2 was also effective when administered without adjuvant. Our results show that L. tarentolae is an efficient and safe scaffold for production and delivery of viral antigens, to be used as vaccines. In addition, rectal vaccination experiments prove that L. tarentolae is suitable as a vaccine vehicle and adjuvant for enteral vaccination. Finally, the combined preparation LeCoVax-2 can be considered as a promising candidate vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, worthy of further investigation.

Inducibility of AhR-regulated CYP genes by beta-naphthoflavone in the liver, lung, kidney and heart of the pig.

The presence and inducibility of CYP enzymes belonging to the family 1 (CYP 1A1, 1A2 and 1B1) and AhR have been studied in liver, lung, kidney and heart of control and beta-naphthoflavone (beta NF)-treated pigs. Segments of so far undescribed genes for porcine CYP 1A2, 1B1 and AhR were identified by RT-PCR and their sequences found to be highly homologous to those of the corresponding human genes. The mRNA level of CYP 1A1 was induced by beta NF, although to a different extent, in liver, lung, kidney and heart. This transcriptional activation of CYP 1A1 was accompanied in microsomes of all these organs by an induction of 7-ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity (a marker of this isoform) and an increase in a protein band immunoreactive with anti-rat CYP 1A1. An increase in CYP 1A2 transcription and in activity of microsomal 7-methoxyresorufin demethylase and acetanilide 4-hydroxylase (both markers of 1A2) was observed in the liver and, to a very small extent, in the lung but not in kidney and heart. As to CYP 1B1, its transcription was detected in liver, lung and heart only following the beta NF treatment; however this mRNA expression did result in any detectable microsomal 17beta-estradiol 4-hydroxylase activity (a marker of this isoform). The CYPs induced by beta NF were further investigated by using some other marker activities. It was found that porcine CYP 1A1 and 1A2, unlike the human counterparts, could only deethylate 7-ethoxycomarin to a very small extent, if at all, whereas 7-ethoxy 4-trifluoromethylcoumarin was a good substrate for pig CYP 1A1. Overall, our results demonstrated a differential expression and regulation of the AhR-mediated CYP genes in liver, lung, kidney and heart of the pig.naphthoflavone.

Rapid depletion of marbofloxacin residues in rabbit after therapeutic treatment.

Although rabbit meat production represents a very small percentage of the world meat market, this percentage has been growing continuously during the last 30 years. Rabbit is considered a minor food species, and therefore no drugs are specifically registered for this animal. This situation encourages rabbit farmers to make off-label use of antibacterial drugs authorized for food-producing animal species other than rabbits. In the present study, the distribution and elimination of the fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent marbofloxacin in rabbit muscle, liver, and kidney was investigated. Marbofloxacin was chosen as a representative of a new generation of antibacterial drugs active against most gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and mycoplasms; it is well tolerated and has short elimination times in bovine and swine species. Rabbits were treated with marbofloxacin at 2 mg kg of body weight(-1) for 5 days. Residual concentrations in liver, kidney, and muscle tissues were determined posttreatment with high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. Marbofloxacin was rapidly distributed and eliminated from rabbit tissues. Concentrations were higher in the liver and kidney than in muscle. However, 48 h after the end of treatment, marbofloxacin concentrations dropped below the maximum residue level fixed for this antibacterial drug in cattle and pigs. Considering the efficacy of marbofloxacin for the treatment of the most common rabbit diseases, its tolerability, and its short elimination time as verified in the present study, use of this antibacterial drug could be extended to therapeutic treatment of rabbits.

Orally administered erythromycin in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): residues in edible tissues and withdrawal time.

Aquaculture production has notably increased in the last decades, mainly thanks to intensive farming. Together with market globalization, this gives rise to the spreading of several fish diseases, thus increasing the demand for veterinary drugs for aquatic species. Nonetheless, very few chemicals are registered for use in aquaculture, and fish farmers are often forced to resort to off-label use of drugs authorized for other food-producing animal species. Rainbow trout is the major farmed fish species in Italy and the second one in Europe. Erythromycin is the antibiotic of choice against gram-positive cocci, the major concern for trout farming, but it is not yet registered for aquaculture use in most European countries. The aim of this study was to follow the depletion of erythromycin in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), after its administration at 100 mg kg(-1) trout body weight day(-1) for 21 days through medicated feed (water temperature, 11.5 degrees C). Erythromycin residues in fish muscle plus skin in natural proportion were determined by a validated liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method. Interpolation of our data, following European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products guidelines, gives a withdrawal time of 255 degrees C-days ( degrees C-day = water temperature x days), thus showing that the general value (500 degrees C-day) recommended by the Council Directive (EEC) no. 82/2001 for off-label drug use in aquaculture would be too conservative in this case, with excessive costs for the farmers. Our study provides preliminary data for a more prudent use of erythromycin in rainbow trout, suggesting a possible withdrawal time after treatment.

Long depletion time of enrofloxacin in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The international production of farmed fish has been growing continuously over recent years. Until now few veterinary drugs have been approved by the European Union for use in aquaculture, and this has favored the off-label use of products authorized for use in food-producing animal species different from fishes among fish farmers. Adequate field studies are lacking, especially for those species called minor species which are consumed extensively only in some European countries. In the present investigation we studied the depletion of the fluoroquinolone antibacterial enrofloxacin over time in a minor species, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), reared on a real fish farm and treated with medicated feed (10 mg kg of trout body weight(-1) day(-1)). Edible tissue samples (muscle plus skin in natural proportions) and fish bone samples were analyzed for enrofloxacin and for its major metabolite, ciprofloxacin, by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection at different times after the end of treatment. Our results show that at 500 degrees C-day (in which degree-days are calculated by multiplying the mean daily water temperature by the total number of days on which the temperature was measured), which is the minimum withdrawal period established by European Economic Commission Directive No. 82/2001 for any type of product administered off-label, edible trout tissues might still contain about 170 microg of enrofloxacin kg(-1), whereas the maximum residue level for enrofloxacin plus ciprofloxacin is set at 100 microg kg(-1). To our knowledge, no studies of the depletion of enrofloxacin in rainbow trout have been performed. On the basis of the data obtained in the present study, we suggest a more appropriate withdrawal time of 816 degrees C-day for the sum of enrofloxacin plus ciprofloxacin levels in rainbow trout muscle plus skin tissues.

In vitro formation of metabolic-intermediate cytochrome P450 complexes in rabbit liver microsomes by tiamulin and various macrolides.

Tiamulin and a number of macrolides were evaluated as to their ability in forming metabolic-intermediate (MI) complexes with cytochrome P450 in liver microsomes from rabbits bred for meat production. Complex formation, which occurred only in preparations where the expression of P450 3A was increased as the result of rifampicin pre-treatment and with different kinetics, was in the order tiamulin > erythromycin > TAO approximately roxithromycin approximately tylosin and did not take place with tilmicosin and spiramycin. Most of the tested compounds underwent an oxidative N-dealkylation and a good relationship could be found between the rate of N-dealkylase activity in induced preparations and the aptitude in generating MI complexes. Although the results from in vitro studies should be interpreted with caution, it is suggested that the potential for in vivo drug interactions also exists in the rabbit for tiamulin and for four out of the six tested macrolides.