Retrospective Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Analysis of Host Resistance and Susceptibility to Ovine Johne's Disease Using Restored FFPE DNA.

Johne's disease (JD), also known as paratuberculosis, is a chronic, untreatable gastroenteritis of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection. Evidence for host genetic resistance to disease progression exists, although it is limited due to the extended incubation period (years) and diagnostic challenges. To overcome this, previously restored formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE) DNA from archived FFPE tissue cassettes was utilized for a novel retrospective case-control genome-wide association study (GWAS) on ovine JD. Samples from known MAP-infected flocks with ante- and postmortem diagnostic data were used. Cases (N = 9) had evidence of tissue infection, compared to controls (N = 25) without evidence of tissue infection despite positive antemortem diagnostics. A genome-wide efficient mixed model analysis (GEMMA) to conduct a GWAS using restored FFPE DNA SNP results from the Illumina Ovine SNP50 Bead Chip, identified 10 SNPs reaching genome-wide significance of p < 1 × 10-6 on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 24, and 26. Pathway analysis using PANTHER and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was completed on 45 genes found within 1 Mb of significant SNPs. Our work provides a framework for the novel use of archived FFPE tissues for animal genetic studies in complex diseases and further evidence for a genetic association in JD.

Bio-distribution and in vivo antioxidant effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles in mice.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles have oxygen defects in their lattice structure that enables them to act as a regenerative free radical scavenger in a physiological environment. We performed a comprehensive in vivo analysis of the biological distribution and antioxidant capabilities of nanoceria administered to mice perorally (PO), intravenously (IV), or intraperitoneally (IP) by dosing animals weekly for 2 or 5 weeks with 0.5 mg kg(-1) nanoceria. Next, we examined if nanoceria administration would decrease ROS production in mice treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). Our results showed that the most extensive and cumulative nano-deposition was via IV and IP administered while PO administration showed mice excreted greater than 95% of their nanoceria within 24 h. Organ deposition for IV and IP mice was greatest in the spleen followed by the liver, lungs, and kidneys. Elimination for all administration routes was through feces. Nanoceria administration showed no overt toxicity, however, WBC counts were elevated with IV and IP administration. Our in vivo studies show that nanoceria administration to mice with induced liver toxicity (by CCl(4)) showed similar findings to mice treated with N-acetyl cystine (NAC), a common therapeutic to reduce oxidative stress. Taken together, our studies show that nanoceria remains deposited in tissues and may decrease ROS, thereby suggesting that cerium oxide nanoparticles may be a useful antioxidant treatment for oxidative stress.

Successful restoration of archived ovine formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue DNA and single nucleotide polymorphism analysis.

Archived formalin fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are powerful tools in medicine, capable of harboring diagnostic and genetic answers to challenging clinical questions. Successful utilization of DNA derived from FFPE samples is dependent upon repairing DNA damage generated from the fixation process. Methods to repair FFPE DNA have been successful in human medicine for a variety of research and clinical applications, yet remain underutilized in veterinary medicine. Despite the available technology, our study is the first to evaluate the repair of FFPE derived DNA from veterinary species for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis using the Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip and Illumina FFPE QC and DNA Restore kit. To accomplish this, 48 ovine FFPE samples were run using the Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip with and without restoration. Compared to pre-restore data, we found increased sample call rates, SNP call frequency, and assay metrics for all samples post-restoration. Further, we utilized four sheep with available parallel fresh DNA and FFPE DNA to compare assay metrics and genotype calls between the two starting sample types. Although fresh samples generated increased call rates, we found 99% concordance in allele calls between restored FFPE and fresh DNA for all four samples. Our results indicate successful restoration and genotyping of ovine FFPE samples using this technology, with potential for utilization in other veterinary species.

Anti-inflammatory properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles.

The valence and oxygen defect properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) suggest that they may act as auto-regenerative free radical scavengers. Overproduction of the free radical nitric oxide (NO) by the enzyme inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been implicated as a critical mediator of inflammation. NO is correlated with disease activity and contributes to tissue destruction. The ability of nanoceria to scavenge free radicals, or reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibit inflammatory mediator production in J774A.1 murine macrophages is investigated. Cells internalize nanoceria, the treatment is nontoxic, and oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory iNOS protein expression are abated with stimulation. In vivo studies show nanoceria deposition in mouse tissues with no pathogenicity. Taken together, it is suggested that cerium oxide nanoparticles are well tolerated in mice and are incorporated into cellular tissues. Furthermore, nanoceria may have the potential to reduce ROS production in states of inflammation and therefore serve as a novel therapy for chronic inflammation.

Community-wide vaccination with the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate significantly alters the microbiology of acute otitis media.

BACKGROUND: Community-wide use of conjugated heptavalent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV7) in children <2 years of age could affect the microbiology of acute otitis media (AOM) in vaccinees, particularly for penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (PNSP). SETTING: Since Summer 2000, 94% of young children cared for by this 7-clinician, pediatric practice in rural central Kentucky received 3 or 4 doses of PCV7 in the first 18 months of life. OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in microbiology of AOM before and after community-wide routine implementation of PCV7. METHODS: Among children 7-24 months old with severe or refractory AOM, we compared 336 AOM isolates from 1992-1998 with 83 AOM isolates from 2000-2003 in children who had received 3 or 4 doses of PCV7. RESULTS: Comparing each cohort (1992-1998 versus 2000-2003), the proportion of S. pneumoniae decreased from 48% to 31% (P = 0.009; relative risk, 0.754; 95% confidence interval, 0.628-0.906), and nontypable Haemophilus influenzae increased from 41% to 56% (P = 0.01; relative risk, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-3.04; beta-lactamase-positive, 56% versus 64%, not significant). The proportions of intermediate PNSP and resistant PNSP, respectively, were 16% and 9% versus 13% and 6% pre- and post-PCV7, respectively. Vaccine and vaccine-related serotypes, respectively, comprised 70% and 8% versus 36% and 32% of S. pneumoniae strains (P = 0.003). Post-PCV7, Gram-negative bacteria and beta-lactamase-producing organisms accounted for two-thirds and one-half of all AOM isolates, respectively. DISCUSSION: The overall proportion of S. pneumoniae isolates and vaccine serotypes in AOM were significantly reduced by community-wide use of PCV7 vaccine in our practice. The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria became 2-fold more frequent than S. pneumoniae in AOM in PCV7-vaccinated young children where PCV7 uptake was community-wide and supply was adequate.

Pneumococcal serotypes from acute otitis media in rural Kentucky.

OBJECTIVE: Acute otitis media (AOM) accounts for most infections caused by, but few data are available regarding the incidence of pneumococcal serotypes recovered from children with AOM in the United States. METHODS: Between January 1992 and March 1998, 777 middle ear pathogens from AOM were obtained from 701 patients by tympanocentesis (84.6%) or by culture of otorrhea (15.4%) from spontaneous perforation or draining tubes. The ambulatory patient population was mostly white and cared for by a sole private pediatric practice in rural Kentucky. RESULTS: Penicillin-nonsusceptible (penicillin MIC > or = 0.1 microg/ml) (PNSP) isolates accounted for 18% [6% resistant PNSP (rPNSP) and 12% intermediate resistant PNSP], and penicillin-susceptible strains accounted for 35% of the pathogens recovered from children with culture-proved AOM. Comparing the frequency of isolates between 1992 and 1993 with those between 1994 and 1998, overall rates of PNSP strains remained remarkably stable (32.2% 37.3%), but intermediate resistant PNSP strains doubled from 14% to 27% ( < 0.01), whereas rPNSP strains fell by one-third. Serotypes 19F (34%), 23F (30%), 6B (26%) and 14 (8%) accounted for nearly all rPNSP isolates. Two cross-reactive serotypes (6A and 19A) not included in the available pneumococcal conjugate vaccine comprised 8.4 and 15% of all serotypes and PNSP serotypes, respectively. Nearly all PNSP strains recovered in children < or =24 months are included in the vaccine serogroups. CONCLUSION: Depending on rates of efficacy and serotype cross-protection, the current pneumococcal conjugate vaccine could potentially protect against most PNSP strains in all ages, particularly in those < or =24 months.