Vaccination of mice with chitosan nanogel-associated recombinant NcPDI against challenge infection with Neospora caninum tachyzoites.

The effects of nanogel encapsulation of recombinant NcPDI (recNcPDI) following vaccination of mice by intranasal or intraperitoneal routes and challenge infection with Neospora caninum tachyzoites were investigated. Nanogels were chitosan based, with an alginate or alginate-mannose surface. None of the mice receiving recNcPDI intraperitoneal (i.p.) (without nanogels) survived, whereas intranasal (i.n.) application protected 9 of 10 mice from disease. Association of recNcPDI with nanogels improved survival of i.p. vaccinated mice, but nanogels without recNcPDI gave similar protection levels. When nanogels were inoculated via the i.n. route, 80% of the mice were protected. Association of recNcPDI with the alginate-coated nanogels protected all mice against disease. Quantification of the cerebral parasite burden showed a significant reduction of parasite numbers in most experimental groups vaccinated i.n., except those vaccinated with alginate-mannose nanogels with or without recNcPDI. For i.p. vaccinated groups, no significant differences in cerebral infection densities were measured, but there was a reduction in the groups vaccinated with recNcPDI associated with both types of nanogels. Analysis of the immune responses of infected mice indicated that association of recNcPDI with nanogels altered the patterns of cytokine mRNA expression profiles, but had no major impact on the antibody subtype responses. Nevertheless, this did not necessarily relate to the protection.

Sulfur-free lignins from alkaline pulping tested in mortar for use as mortar additives.

Sulfur-free lignin, obtained through the acid precipitation of black liquor from the soda pulping process, has been tested as water reducer in mortar. It has also been compared to existing commercial additives such as naphthalene sulfonates and lignosulfonates. The ash content and sugar content of these lignins are low in comparison to lignosulfonates, conferring on them higher purity. A procedure for small scale testing derived from the industrial norms SN-EN196 and ASTM (Designation C230-90) is presented. Specifically, all the sulfur-free lignins tested improved the flow of the mortar. Selected flax lignins performed better than lignosulfonates though still less than naphthalene sulfonates. Furthermore, certain hemp lignins gave comparable results to the lignosulfonates. Overall, the straw lignin prepared herein is comparable in performance to commercially available lignins, such as Organocell, Alcell and Curan 100. The plant from which the lignin was isolated, and the process of the pulp mill are the primary influences on the performance of the lignin.