Poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-encapsulated vaccine on immune system in Epinephelus bruneus against Uronema marinum.

We investigate the efficacy of poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-encapsulated vaccine on innate and adaptive immune response in kelp grouper (Epinephelus bruneus) against Uronema marinum at weeks 1, 2, and 4. The respiratory burst (RB) activity, complement activity, and α2-macroglobulin were significantly enhanced in fish immunization with vaccine on week 4 whereas vaccine and PLGA-encapsulated vaccine from weeks 1 to 4. The serum lysozyme activity, antiprotease activity, and antibody level were significantly enhanced in fish immunized with vaccine and PLGA-encapsulated vaccine on weeks 2 and 4. The cumulative mortality was low in PLGA-encapsulated vaccine with 20% whereas high in PLGA and vaccine with 40% and 30%. The results from the present study suggest that PLGA-encapsulated vaccine is useful for further design of immunoprophylatic nano formulation against scuticociliatosis.

Philasterides dicentrarchi, a histophagous ciliate causing scuticociliatosis in olive flounder, Philasterides dicentrarchi--histopathology investigations.

Philasterides dicentrarchi is a histophagous scuticociliate infecting Korean olive flounder farms in Jeju Island, South Korea, where it causes significant economic losses. However, the route of entry of these parasites in olive flounder is currently unknown. In the present study, we attempted experimental infection with different doses (concentrations) of P. dicentrarchi by intraperitoneal (IP) injection; maximum cumulative mortality of 95% was recorded on the administration of 2.1×10(8) ciliates/ml. In small size group (3 cm length, 24±2 gwt) the ciliates were found in connective tissues of muscle, fins, and nervous tissue while in large size group (5 cm length, 47±3 gwt), the ciliates were predominantly occurred with associated symptoms of liquefaction in the central nervous system. The major clinico-pathological manifestations were loss of scales, appearance of bleached spots that coalesced to form brownish patches, hemorrhagic, and severe dermal necrotic lesion. In addition there was degeneration of muscle fibers, necrosis of the hepatic parenchyma, and severe edema of the intestinal walls, extensive fouling, necrotic degeneration and hyperplasia in the gill bronchial epithelium. In this study, many ciliates were found in the blood vessel, brain, dorsal fins, muscle, kidney, and vertebra of infected flounder. The histopathological investigations are of significant importance in view of possible routes of entry into the host and doses of ciliates that trigger fast infection for potential utility of drugs as a strategy for the control of P. dicentrarchi in farmed olive flounder.

Poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid-liposome encapsulated ODN on innate immunity in Epinephelus bruneus against Vibrio alginolyticus.

The efficacy of poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-liposome (L) encapsulated oligodeoxynucleotides with unmethylated deoxycytidyl-deoxyguanosine motifs (CpG-ODNs) on innate and adaptive immune response and disease resistance in kelp grouper (Epinephelus bruneus) against Vibrio alginolyticus at weeks 1, 2, and 4 is reported. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), respiratory burst, and lysozyme activities significantly increased in E. bruneus when immunized with ODN, PLGA+ODN, L+ODN, and PLGA+L+ODN on weeks 2 and 4. The serum complement activity was significantly enhanced with L+ODN and PLGA+L+ODN on week 1 while it increased with PLGA+ODN, L+ODN, and PLGA+L+ODN on weeks 2 and 4. The antibody titre consistently was increased with PLGA or L encapsulated with ODN (PLGA+ODN, L+ODN, and PLGA+L+ODN) from weeks 1 to 4. The cumulative mortality was 20% each in PLGA+ODN administered groups and 15% each in ODN, L+ODN, and PLGA+L+ODN groups during a period of 30 days. The present study suggests that PLGA-liposome encapsulated ODN has the potential to modulate the immune system and can serve as a useful tool for further design of immunoprophylatic nano drug formulations against bacterial diseases.

Development of an optimized, simple chemically defined medium for bacterial cellulose production by Acetobacter sp. A9 in shaking cultures.

The genus Acetobacter can synthesize cellulose when grown in an undefined medium containing glucose. By using the technique of the omission of a single medium component, an optimized and simple chemically defined medium was developed to support cellulose production by Acetobacter sp. A9 in shaking culture. It contained 4.0% (w/v) glucose, 0.2% (w/v) (NH(4))(2)SO(4), 0.25% (w/v) KH(2)PO(4), 0.3% (w/v) Na(2)HPO(4).12H(2)O, 0.05% (w/v) MgSO(4).7H(2)O, 0.0002% (w/v) FeSO(4).7H(2)O, 0.00025% (w/v) H(3)BO(3), 0.00006% (w/v) nicotinamide, 0.00025% (w/v) inositol and 1.4% (v/v) ethanol. A maximum cellulose concentration of around 8 g/l was achieved after 9 days of cultivation at 200 rev./min. The production of cellulose by Acetobacter sp. A9 was greater in simplified synthetic medium than in complex medium (Hestrin and Schramm medium) conventionally used for Acetobacter strains.