Vaccination and immune responses of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) against betanodavirus.

This review summarizes the available knowledge on the immune defences of European sea bass against antigenic preparations derived from the viral encephalopathy and retinopathy virus (betanodavirus), which represents a major threat to the health of this fish species. The nodavirus is widely present and differentiates into several strains that infect invertebrates (in insects, alphanodavirus) and teleost fish, and thus may represent a great problem for farmed fish species. Many efforts have been directed to discovering new immunizations to induce protection in sea bass, especially at young stages, and these efforts have included employing diverse betanodavirus strains, antigen preparation, vaccination routes, and the addition of adjuvants and/or immunostimulants.

Evolution of Th2 responses: characterization of IL-4/13 in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) and studies of expression and biological activity.

Th2 immunity is a primary host defence against metazoan pathogens and two of the important cytokines involved in this immune response in mammals are IL-4 and IL-13. Recently the origin and evolution of Th2 immune responses have been investigated in fish where a molecule with relatedness to both IL-4 and IL-13 is present, termed IL-4/13. Different IL-4/13 paralogues (IL-4/13 A and IL-4/13B) exist in teleost fish.

Reproductive biology in Anophelinae mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae): Fine structure of the female accessory gland.

The morphology and ultrastructure of female accessory reproductive glands of Anopheles maculipennis s.s., Anopheles labranchiae and Anopheles stephensi were investigated by light and electron microscopy.

Tubal sterilization by laparoscopy or hysteroscopy: which is the most cost-effective procedure?

By using the activity-based cost/management (ABC/M) system we computed and compared costs needed for laparoscopic tubal sterilization (LTS) and Essure hysteroscopic tubal occlusion (EHTO). We found that total health costs related to consultation and presurgery did not differ between LTS and EHTO; EHTO has low recovery unit costs but is more costly for the operating theater, mainly due to Essure microinserts.

T cell receptor beta chain from sea bream (Sparus aurata): molecular cloning, expression and modelling of the complexes with MHC class I.

The T cell receptor is a fundamental mediator of the adaptive immune responses, since TR alphabeta on T cells recognize foreign structures (peptides derived from processed antigens) bound to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on APC cells. In the present study, we report the cloning of six TRB chains cDNA sequences from gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), a fish of high economical impact in South Mediterranean aquaculture. The V-BETA domains have the canonical features of known teleost and mammalian TR V-BETA domains and have been divided in four different subgroups.

Compartmentalisation of T cells expressing CD8alpha and TCRbeta in developing thymus of sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L.).

Eggs, larvae, post-larvae and sexually immature juveniles of the teleost Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) were assayed for the expression of genes encoding the T cell receptor beta and CD8alpha. RT-PCR of RNA extracted from larvae revealed TCRbeta transcripts from day 25 post-hatching (ph) and CD8alpha transcripts from 26 days later.

Single serum activin a testing to predict ectopic pregnancy.

Context: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is an important cause of maternal deaths in early pregnancy because most fatal cases result from delayed diagnosis and inappropriate investigation.

Objective: We evaluated whether the measurement of activin A may be useful in the diagnosis of EP in women with unknown pregnancy location.

Design: The study was designed as an open observational study.

Use of a progestogen only preparation containing desogestrel in the treatment of recurrent pelvic pain after conservative surgery for endometriosis.

Objective: To assess the effect of a new progestin progestogen only pill (desogestrel) versus an oral contraceptive in the treatment of recurrent endometriosis.

Study Design: A randomized prospective clinical study. A group of women with endometriosis (n=40) who showed recurrent dysmenorrhea and/or pelvic pain after conservative surgery, and did not desire a pregnancy.

Effects of administration of probiotic strains on GALT of larval gilthead seabream: Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies.

Two bacterial strains Lactobacillus fructivorans (AS17B), isolated from adult seabream (Sparus aurata L.) gut, and Lactobacillus plantarum (906), isolated from human faeces, were administered contemporaneously during seabream development using Brachionus plicatilis and/or Artemia salina and dry feed as vectors. Experimental group A received the probiotic strains already via rotifers from day 5 post-hatch (ph), whereas treatment of group B began with Artemia feeding from day 27 ph.

Production and characterization of a continuous embryonic cell line from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.).

Continuous cell lines represent an important tool both for biological studies and for their applications in marine biotechnology. In this article we describe the production and characterization of a continuous adherent cell line, named DLEC, derived from early embryos of the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L. (Actinopterygii, Moronidae).

The CD8alpha from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.): Cloning, expression and 3D modelling.

In this paper we describe the cloning, expression and structural study by modelling techniques of the CD8alpha from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). The sea bass CD8alpha cDNA is comprised of 1490 bp and is translated in one reading frame to give a protein of 217 amino acids, with a predicted 26 amino acids signal peptide, a 88 bp 5'-UTR and a 748 bp 3'-UTR.

Biological activity of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) recombinant interleukin-1beta.

Biological activities of a putative mature sea bass interleukin-1beta peptide, produced as a recombinant protein (rIL-1beta) in Escherichia coli, have been investigated. The rIL-1beta contains a 6-histidine tag at the N-terminus, and protein purification has been achieved through this tag by affinity chromatography. Biological activities have been investigated both at the cellular and gene expression levels.

Immunoglobulin protein and gene transcripts in sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) oocytes.

Cellular mechanisms of Ig transfer to Sparus aurata developing oocytes were analysed. Homologous serum Ig was purified and used to raise the rabbit polyclonal antiserum ORa. Immunohistochemistry revealed an active role of both follicular cells (already at a pre-vitellogenetic stage) and oocytes in the Ig uptake.

Yolk sac tumor in a young girl: a case report.

Background: Yolk sac tumor is a rare neoplasm characterized by high malignancy given its premature metastasis, that is frequent in adolescence.

Case Report: A 21-year-old woman came to our observation for an ovarian cyst (13 cm in diameter). Following salpingo-oophorectomy, it was revealed as a yolk sac tumor by histological diagnosis.

The treatment with a COX-2 specific inhibitor is effective in the management of pain related to endometriosis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 specific inhibitors versus placebo in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.

Study Design: A group of women (n = 28) with pelvic pain after conservative surgery for symptomatic endometriosis (Stage I and II) were enrolled at the Department of Pediatric, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine of University of Siena. A treatment with a COX-2 specific inhibitors (rofecoxib, 25mg per day) (n = 16) or placebo (n = 12) was given for 6 months.

Immunoglobulin protein and gene transcripts in ovarian follicles throughout oogenesis in the teleost Dicentrarchus labrax.

Transfer of immunoglobulins (IgM-like) from the female to the teleost embryo has been demonstrated but mechanisms of uptake into and storage within the eggs remain to be clarified. The monoclonal antibody DLIg3 against Dicentrarchus labrax Ig light chain revealed an active role of both follicle cells and oocytes in the Ig uptake. The primordial follicular cells showed DLIg3 immunoreactivity even at a pre-vitellogenetic stage.

Expression in Escherchia coli and purification of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) interleukin 1beta, a possible immunoadjuvant in aquaculture.

Interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a pivotal role in regulating immune responses. Our group has recently cloned IL-1beta from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), one of the main Mediterranean aquacultured fish species. The cDNA is 1292 bp and codes for a deduced peptide of 29.

Vitellin cleavage products are proteolytically degraded by ubiquitination in stick insect embryos.

Vitellin polypeptides are proteolytically processed in ovarian follicles and embryos of the stick insect Carausius morosus. Data show that vitellin polypeptide A(3) of 54kDa is processed to yield polypeptide A(3)(*) of about 48kDa upon completion of ovarian development, whereas vitellin polypeptide A(2) of 90kDa yields polypeptide E(9) during embryonic development. As vitellin polypeptides are processed, polypeptides A(3)(*) and E(9) are transferred from the yolk granules to the cytosolic space of the vitellophages and start to express a ubiquitin reactivity.

An Ultrastructural Investigation on Vitellophage Invasion of the Yolk Mass during and after Germ Band Formation in Embryos of the Stick Insect Carausius morosus Br.: (embryogenesis/yolk/vitellophage/Carausius morosus/scanning and transmission electron microscopy).

Developing embryos of the stick insect Carausius morosus were examined ultrastructurally with a view to studying vitellophage invasion of the yolk mass during and after germ band formation. Newly laid eggs in C.morosus have a unique yolk fluid compartment surrounded by a narrow fringe of cytoplasm comprising several small yolk granules.

The follicle cell-oocyte interaction in ovarian follicles of the stick insect Bacillus rossius (Rossi): (Insecta: Phasmatodea).

Developing ovarian follicles of Bacillus rossius have been examined ultrastructurally in an attempt to understand how inception of vitel-logenesis is controlled. Early vitellogenic follicles are characterized by a thick cuboidal epithelium that is highly interlocked with the oocyte plasma membrane. Gap junctional contacts are present both at the follicle cell/oocyte interface and in between adjacent follicle cells.