Comparison of Glomerular Filtration Rate Equations in a Rural New Mexico Cohort: Results from the COMPASS Study.

Rationale And Objective: The NKF-ASN Task Force recommends accurate kidney function estimation avoiding biases through racial adjustments. We explored the use of multiple kidney function biomarkers and hence estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations to improve kidney function calculations in an ethnically diverse patient population.

Study Design: Prospective community cohort study.

Safety of the Administration of an Inactivated PCV2a/PCV2b/ Vaccine to Pregnant and Lactating Sows and Gilts.

Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccination of gilts during acclimation has become a routine practice in commercial pig farms to homogenize herd immunity to PCV2 and reduce the impact of diseases associated with PCV2 infection, namely reproductive, respiratory, systemic, and other PCV2-associated diseases. The periodic mass vaccination of sows, with the same objectives, is also common. To ensure mass vaccination is an appropriate health management tool, demonstrating that the vaccine is safe in different sow/gilt physiological stages is necessary.

Efficacy Studies against PCV-2 of a New Trivalent Vaccine including PCV-2a and PCV-2b Genotypes and When Administered at 3 Weeks of Age.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a new trivalent vaccine containing inactivated Porcine Circovirus 1-2a and 1-2b chimeras and a bacterin administered to pigs around 3 weeks of age. This trivalent vaccine has already been proved as efficacious in a split-dose regimen but has not been tested in a single-dose scenario. For this purpose, a total of four studies including two pre-clinical and two clinical studies were performed.

Efficacy Studies of a Trivalent Vaccine Containing PCV-2a, PCV-2b Genotypes and When Administered at 3 Days of Age and 3 Weeks Later against Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV-2) Infection.

Four studies under preclinical and clinical conditions were performed to evaluate the efficacy of a new trivalent vaccine against Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) infection. The product contained inactivated PCV-1/PCV-2a (cPCV-2a) and PCV-1/PCV-2b (cPCV-2b) chimeras, plus inactivated cell-free antigens, which was administered to piglets in a two-dose regime at 3 days of age and 3 weeks later. The overall results of preclinical and clinical studies show a significant reduction in PCV-2 viraemia and faecal excretion, and lower histopathological lymphoid lesions and PCV-2 immunohistochemistry scores in vaccinated pigs when compared to non-vaccinated ones.

Exploratory Study of the Frequency of Detection and Tissue Distribution of (PCV-3) in Pig Fetuses at Different Gestational Ages.

(PCV-3) has been associated with several pig diseases. Despite the pathogenicity of this virus has not been completely clarified, reproductive disorders are consistently associated with its infection. The aim of the present work was to analyze the presence of PCV-3 DNA in tissues from pig fetuses from different gestational timepoints.

A bivalent porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), PCV2a-PCV2b, vaccine offers biologically superior protection compared to monovalent PCV2 vaccines.

Recent publications suggest PCV2 vaccine-induced protection is superior when the vaccine and challenge are closely matched. PCV2's evolutionary rate, propensity for recombination, and genotype shifting, all provide rationale for modernizing PCV2 vaccines. One mechanism to increase a vaccine's epitope breadth is by designing a bivalent vaccine.

Efficacy of a Modified Live Virus Vaccine against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus 1 (PRRSV-1) Administered to 1-Day-Old Piglets in Front of Heterologous PRRSV-1 Challenge.

PRRSV is one of the most important viruses in the global swine industry and is often controlled by the use of modified live virus (MLV) vaccines. This study assessed the impact of a PRRSV-1 MLV vaccine applied to 1-day-old piglets challenged on day 28 of life with a PRRSV-1 field isolate (AUT15-33). Twenty-one piglets were vaccinated within 24 h of birth (T02), whereas 20 piglets were left unvaccinated (T01).

One Dose of a Novel Vaccine Containing Two Genotypes of Porcine Circovirus (PCV2a and PCV2b) and Conferred a Duration of Immunity of 23 Weeks.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and () are important swine pathogens for which vaccination is a key control strategy. Three separate studies were performed to evaluate the duration of immunity (DOI) conferred by a novel vaccine combining PCV2a/PCV2b and into a ready-to-use formulation. In each study, three-week-old naïve piglets were vaccinated (Day 0) and challenged 23-weeks later (Day 159) with either PCV2a, PCV2b or .

Influenza A Virus in Swine: Epidemiology, Challenges and Vaccination Strategies.

Influenza A viruses cause acute respiratory infections in swine that result in significant economic losses for global pig production. Currently, three different subtypes of influenza A viruses of swine (IAV-S) co-circulate worldwide: H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2. However, the origin, genetic background and antigenic properties of those IAV-S vary considerably from region to region.

Assessment of the Impact of the Recombinant Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Horsens Strain on the Reproductive Performance in Pregnant Sows.

This study assessed the impact of a PRRSV (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus) recombinant strain (Horsens strain) on the reproductive performance of naïve pregnant sows in the last third of gestation. Fifteen sows were included: four negative reproductive controls (NTX), five infected with a PRRSV-1 field strain (Olot/91, T01), and six infected with the recombinant PRRSV-1 strain (Horsens strain, T02). Piglets were monitored until weaning.

Frequency of Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of (PCV-3) in Healthy Primiparous and Multiparous Sows and Their Mummified Fetuses and Stillborn.

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3) has been suggested as a putative causal agent of swine reproductive disease. A number of different studies have pointed out this association, but there is still a lack of information regarding the normal rates of PCV-3 infection in farms with normal reproductive parameters. The objective of the present study was to assess the frequency of PCV-3 detection in primiparous and multiparous sows and in tissues from their respective fetuses from farms with average reproductive parameters.

Immune response development after vaccination of 1-day-old naïve pigs with a Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome 1-based modified live virus vaccine.

Background: The development of the innate and adaptive immune responses to (PRRSV) after vaccination of 1 day-old pigs with a PRRSV-1 based modified live virus (MLV) vaccine by intramuscular (IM) and intranasal (IN) routes was characterised, before and after challenge with a heterologous PRRSV-1 isolate at 18 weeks post-vaccination. Twenty-five PRRSV-seronegative piglets were used. At 1 day of age, pigs were administered with a single dose of vaccine via the IM ( = 10) or the IN route ( = 10).

Vaccination of 1-day-old pigs with a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) modified live attenuated virus vaccine is able to overcome maternal immunity.

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) on the efficacy of a PRRSV-1 based attenuated vaccine, when administered in 1 day-old piglets by the intramuscular route. The protective immunity of the modified live virus vaccine was evaluated in pigs born from seropositive sows, vaccinated at 1 day of age, upon inoculation with a PRRSV-1 isolate. The animals were challenged when the levels of MDAs detected by seroneutralization test (SNT) in the non-vaccinated control group became undetectable (10 weeks after vaccination).

Contrasting soil fungal community responses to experimental nitrogen addition using the large subunit rRNA taxonomic marker and cellobiohydrolase I functional marker.

Human activities have resulted in increased nitrogen inputs into terrestrial ecosystems, but the impact of nitrogen on ecosystem function, such as nutrient cycling, will depend at least in part on the response of soil fungal communities. We examined the response of soil fungi to experimental nitrogen addition in a loblolly pine forest (North Carolina, USA) using a taxonomic marker (large subunit rDNA, LSU) and a functional marker involved in a critical step of cellulose degradation (cellobiohydrolase, cbhI) at five time points that spanned fourteen months. Sampling date had no impact on fungal community richness or composition for either gene.

Genomic variation in macrophage-cultured European porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus Olot/91 revealed using ultra-deep next generation sequencing.

Background: Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is a disease of major economic impact worldwide. The etiologic agent of this disease is the PRRS virus (PRRSV). Increasing evidence suggest that microevolution within a coexisting quasispecies population can give rise to high sequence heterogeneity in PRRSV.

Comparison of Bacterial Diversity in Azorean and Hawai'ian Lava Cave Microbial Mats.

Worldwide, lava caves host colorful microbial mats. However, little is known about the diversity of these microorganisms, or what role they may play in the subsurface ecosystem. White and yellow microbial mats were collected from four lava caves each on the Azorean island of Terceira and the Big Island of Hawai'i, to compare the bacterial diversity found in lava caves from two widely separated archipelagos in two different oceans at different latitudes.

Soil fungal cellobiohydrolase I gene (cbhI) composition and expression in a loblolly pine plantation under conditions of elevated atmospheric CO2 and nitrogen fertilization.

The simultaneous increase of atmospheric CO(2) and nitrogen (N) deposition to terrestrial ecosystems is predicted to alter plant productivity and, consequently, to change the amount and quality of above- and belowground carbon entering forest soils. It is not known how such changes will impact the composition and function of soil fungal communities that play a key role in degrading complex carbon. We sequenced the fungal cellobiohydrolase I gene (cbhI) from soil DNA and cDNA to compare the richness and composition of resident and expressed cbhI genes at a U.

Lack of an effect of a commercial vaccine adjuvant on the development of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) experimentally infected conventional pigs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial vaccine adjuvant on the clinical and pathological outcome of PCV2 experimentally infected 8 to 9-week-old conventional pigs. Forty-four pigs were divided into four groups: non-infected control pigs, pigs that received a vaccine adjuvant, pigs inoculated with PCV2, and pigs inoculated with PCV2 together with the vaccine adjuvant. Infection was monitored until 69 days post-inoculation (PI).

Epidemiological study on porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection in the European wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is considered as the causative agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in domestic pigs, where the virus is ubiquitous as evidenced by serological surveys. We present the results of the first nationwide sero-survey on the presence of PCV2 antibodies in European wild boars, and report the first PMWS case in a wild boar from Spain. Sera from 656 hunter harvested wild boars from 45 different geographical sites and 22 additional imported animals were analysed by means of an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA).

Cytokine profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in response to mitogen, superantigen or recall viral antigens.

In vitro cytokine profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and healthy pigs were determined in response to recall viral antigens (porcine circovirus type 2; PCV2), mitogens (phytohaemagglutinin) or superantigens (staphylococcal enterotoxin B). PBMC from PMWS-affected pigs, in contrast to those from healthy pigs, responded to recall PCV2 antigen by releasing IL-10 and IFN-gamma, but they were less able or even unable to produce IL-4, IL-2 or IFN-gamma upon challenge with mitogen or superantigen. Moreover, only PCV2 had the ability to downregulate or suppress the release of IL-4 and IL-2 from PBMC from both healthy and diseased animals, and to stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-8).

Transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus gene 7 is not essential but influences in vivo virus replication and virulence.

Transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) contains eight overlapping genes that are expressed from a 3'-coterminal nested set of leader-containing mRNAs. To facilitate the genetic manipulation of the viral genome, genes were separated by duplication of transcription regulating sequences (TRSs) and introduction of unique restriction endonuclease sites at the 5' end of each gene using an infectious cDNA clone. The recombinant TGEV (rTGEV) replicated in cell culture with similar efficiency to the wild-type virus and stably maintained the modifications introduced into the genome.

Engineering the transmissible gastroenteritis virus genome as an expression vector inducing lactogenic immunity.

The genome of the coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) has been engineered as an expression vector with an infectious cDNA. The vector led to the efficient (>40 micro g/10(6) cells) and stable (>20 passages) expression of a heterologous gene (green fluorescent protein [GFP]), driven by the transcription-regulating sequences (TRS) of open reading frame (ORF) 3a inserted in the site previously occupied by the nonessential ORFs 3a and 3b. Expression levels driven by this TRS were higher than those of an expression cassette under the control of regulating sequences engineered with the N gene TRS.

Experimental inoculation of porcine circoviruses type 1 (PCV1) and type 2 (PCV2) in rabbits and mice.

The objective of this work was to investigate the susceptibility of rabbits and mice experimentally inoculated with porcine circoviruses type 1 (PCV1) and type 2 (PCV2) to infection and development of disease and/or lesions. Forty six New Zealand rabbits and 50 ICR-CDI mice were both divided into two groups comprising PCVI and PCV2 inoculated animals, and a third group inoculated with non-infected cell culture medium. Rabbits were inoculated intranasally while mice were inoculated intraperitoneally.