Phages and their satellites encode hotspots of antiviral systems.

Bacteria carry diverse genetic systems to defend against viral infection, some of which are found within prophages where they inhibit competing viruses. Phage satellites pose additional pressures on phages by hijacking key viral elements to their own benefit. Here, we show that E.

Influence of Confounding Factors on Radiation Dose Estimation Using In Vivo Validated Transcriptional Biomarkers.

For triage purposes following a nuclear accident, blood-based gene expression biomarkers can provide rapid dose estimates for a large number of individuals. Ionizing-radiation-responsive genes are regulated through the DNA damage-response pathway, which includes activation of multiple transcription factors. Modulators of this pathway could potentially affect the response of these biomarkers and consequently compromise accurate dose estimation calculations.

Review: Drinking water for liquid-fed pigs.

Liquid feeding has the potential to provide pigs with sufficient water to remain hydrated and prevent prolonged thirst. However, lack of permanent access to fresh water prevents animals from drinking when they are thirsty. Moreover, individual differences between pigs in a pen may result in uneven distribution of the water provided by the liquid feed, leading to some pigs being unable to meet their water requirements.

Anaemia in the sow: a cohort study to assess factors with an impact on haemoglobin concentration, and the influence of haemoglobin concentration on the reproductive performance.

The aim of this study was to conduct a descriptive study of haemoglobin concentration found on high-prolificacy sows, to study the relationship between the concentration of haemoglobin and body reserves, and to determine whether anaemia is a risk factor for reproductive performance. A cohort of 308 sows from seven farms was followed from the last third of gestation to the confirmation of the following gestation. Haemoglobin concentration was assessed at four stages of the reproductive cycle: seven and four weeks before farrowing, a few days and three weeks after farrowing.

A comparison of antimicrobial usage in human and veterinary medicine in France from 1999 to 2005.

Objectives: The antimicrobials allowed and amounts sold in veterinary and human medicine in France were compared to see if the same antimicrobial drugs are used in veterinary and human medicine, and to the same extent.

Methods: Registers of all approved antimicrobial commercial products, kept by the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (AFSSA ANMV) for animals and the French Health Products Safety Agency (AFSSAPS) for humans, were compared to determine whether the same antimicrobials were approved in 2007 for use in both human and animal populations. Sales data were collected from pharmaceutical companies between 1999 and 2005 by the AFSSA ANMV and AFSSAPS.

Effect of glucocorticoids on stem cell factor expression in human asthmatic bronchi.

Background: Stem cell factor (SCF) is a major mast cell growth factor promoting differentiation, chemotaxis as well as inhibition of apoptosis of mast cells. Regulation of SCF expression by glucocorticoids has not yet been reported in human asthmatic bronchi.

Objective: To evaluate SCF mRNA and protein expression in biopsy specimen and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, respectively, and to determine the mast cell numbers in biopsy sections from control and asthmatic subjects treated or not with glucocorticoids.

Effect of quinolone treatment on selection and persistence of quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli in swine faecal flora.

Aims: To study the effect of oral administration of a quinolone on emergence of resistance in an indicator bacterial species from faecal flora.

Methods And Results: Quinolone resistance was studied in Escherichia coli obtained from the faecal contents of pigs housed in nine commercial farrow-to-finish herds in France after administration of flumequine to sows. The percentage of quinolone-resistant E.

Aluminium hydroxide-induced granulomas in pigs.

The effect of intramuscular injection of 40 mg/2 ml aluminium hydroxide in the neck of pigs was examined in a number of ways. The investigation followed repeated slaughterhouse reports, according to which 64.8% of pigs from one particular farm were found at slaughter to have one or more nodules in the muscles of the neck (group slaughtered).

Impairment of beta chemokine and cytokine production in patients with HIV related Pneumocystis jerovici pneumonia.

Background: Pneumocystis jerovici pneumonia (PJP) remains a frequent opportunistic infection in HIV infected patients which markedly upregulates HIV replication by mechanisms so far poorly elucidated. PJP triggers the production of proinflammatory mediators with activating effects on HIV. However, anti-inflammatory factors with inhibiting effects on HIV are normally produced in parallel.

Nitric oxide synthase expression by pulmonary arteries: a predictive marker of Fontan procedure outcome?

Objectives: We retrospectively analyzed lung biopsy specimens from patients who underwent the Fontan procedure to identify predictive markers of outcome.

Methods: We studied the intra-acinar pulmonary arteries present in lung biopsy specimens from 17 patients undergoing the Fontan procedure. We evaluated both their morphology and their expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and endothelin 1.

[Veterinary use of antibiotics and resistance in man: what relation?].

Early in the 1950's antibiotic therapy was introduced in humans, as well as in animals. In 1997 48% of the total European antibiotic sales were intended to veterinary use. However, there are significant differences between antibiotic classes regarding either administered quantities or intent for use, e.

Efficacy of doxycycline in feed for the control of pneumonia caused by Pasteurella multocida and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in fattening pigs.

A multicentre, controlled, randomised and blinded study was carried out in three French pig herds to assess the efficacy of doxycycline administered in the feed for the control of pneumonia. About 20 per cent of 363 pigs from the three fattening units were diseased at the start of the study. Pneumonic lesions were found on pigs examined postmortem and Pasteurella multocida was isolated from the lungs of pigs in all the herds.

Risk factors for high sow mortality in French swine herds.

Episodes of high sow mortality rates affect profitability of swine farms. However, relevant control actions are difficult to implement. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for high levels of sow mortality rate (HM) in French swine herds.

Salmonella typhimurium contamination from farm to meat in adult cattle. Descriptive study.

The aim of this work was to study the increase in hair contamination by salmonella in cattle between the farm and slaughterhouse and to explore the possible relationship between this contamination and the contamination of carcasses and of the ground beef made from these animals. Between April 1994 and May 1995, eight groups of ten cows were sampled at different stages during transportation between the farm and the slaughterhouse and on the slaughterline. For each group, one or two cows were included in each group because they had been shown to excrete Salmonella typhimurium 15 days before slaughtering.

Enhancement of the efficacy of a replication-defective adenovirus-vectored vaccine by the addition of oil adjuvants.

We previously constructed a recombinant adenovirus with a defective E1A gene, which expresses high levels of the pseudorabies virus gp50 in non-transcomplementing cells. The virus is unable to replicate in mice. It elicited the production of anti-gp50 antibodies only when high concentrations (10(8) TCID50 per dose) of the virus were used and it gave mice little protection.

[Immunomodulator effects of 2 antibiotics, chloramphenicol and kitasamycin, in the chicken].

One-day-old chickens treated via drinking water with kitasamycin (0.7 g/l for 6 days then 0.35 g/l for 15 days) or with chloramphenicol (1 g/l for 6 days the 0.

Human alveolar macrophage subpopulations isolated on discontinuous albumin gradients: functional data in normals and sarcoid patients.

Cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage from seven normals and seven sarcoid patients were centrifuged on discontinuous bovine albumin (BSA) gradients to study alveolar macrophage (AM) heterogeneity. The gradient was made with nine BSA concentrations from 8 to 30%. After centrifugation, the cells were recovered from the nine interfaces, named a to i.

Hyena disease in cattle: a review.

Hyena disease was first reported in France in 1975 and since then has been recognized in many countries. It is currently regarded as a disorder of skeletal development, mainly localised in the pelvic limbs of young cattle. Some investigators consider that it is a metabolic disease but the authors believe that it may be caused by a virus.

Human alveolar macrophage subpopulations isolated on discontinuous albumin gradients. Cytological data in normals and sarcoid patients.

Cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from ten subjects (five normals and five sarcoid patients) were centrifuged on discontinuous albumin gradients to study alveolar macrophage (AM) heterogeneity. The gradient was made with nine bovine albumin concentrations (from 8 to 30%). After centrifugation (4000 X g) cells were recovered from the interfaces.