Inhibitory influence of Enterococcus faecium on the propagation of swine influenza A virus in vitro.

The control of infectious diseases such as swine influenza viruses (SwIV) plays an important role in food production both from the animal health and from the public health point of view. Probiotic microorganisms and other health improving food supplements have been given increasing attention in recent years, but, no information on the effects of probiotics on swine influenza virus is available. Here we address this question by assessing the inhibitory potential of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 (E.

Antiviral effects of a probiotic Enterococcus faecium strain against transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus.

The enteropathogenic coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) causes severe disease in young piglets. We have studied the protective effects of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 (E. faecium), which is approved as a feed additive in the European Union, against TGEV infection.

Antiviral activity of zinc salts against transmissible gastroenteritis virus in vitro.

Zinc has been shown to mediate antiviral effects against certain viruses. However, the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. We investigated the effects of the two zinc salts, zinc chloride (ZnCl(2)) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO(4)), on infection of swine testicle (ST) cells with transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and compared it to the effects of a control salt, magnesium sulfate (MgSO(4)).

Molecular and phenotypic modulations of primary and immortalized canine chondrocytes in different culture systems.

This study was conducted to determine physiological and functional features of primary and immortalized canine chondrocytes. Chondrocytes were immortalized by introducing the catalytic component of human telomerase namely human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Primary chondrocytes lost their characteristic phenotype and growth properties whereas the immortalized cells remained polygonal with rapid growth rate.