The physical and biochemical effects of pre-rigor high pressure processing of beef.

High pressure processing (HPP) of pre-rigor longissimus thoracis (strip loin) from prime and bull animals substantially decreased the shear force and improved consumer eating attributes of the final meat product. The improved tenderness in both prime and bull meat was associated with a lower myofibrillar fragmentation index and reduced calpain 1 activity which indicated the mechanism of tenderisation was different from that which occurred in chill aged meat. Light microscopy showed disruption to the fibre packing within the muscle and electron microscopy confirmed significant disruption of the Z discs and M lines and disappearance of the A lines.

High pressure processing improves the tenderness and quality of hot-boned beef.

Strip loins from different grades of cattle were subjected to two levels of high pressure processing (HPP) within 1h of slaughter at a commercial meat processing plant and chilled for 1day before freezing. The physical and eating quality characteristics of longissimus thoracis (strip loin) steaks from HPP were compared to meat that was chill aged for 1 or 28days. HPP produced meat after 1day with 60% lower shear force and higher sensory eating quality scores than 1day chill aged meat.

A macrocyclic calpain inhibitor slows the development of inherited cortical cataracts in a sheep model.

Purpose: We used sheep with an autosomal dominant gene for cortical cataract as an animal model to evaluate novel macrocyclic calpain inhibitors with potential for the medical treatment of human cataract.

Methods: The macrocyclic aldehyde, CAT811, identified previously as a calpain inhibitor that prevents calcium-induced opacification in cultured sheep lenses, was tested for its ability to protect cytoskeletal proteins from calpain proteolysis. CAT811 and its alcohol analogue, CAT505, were formulated separately into ointments, and each was applied twice daily to the right eye of sheep with early cataracts for five months.

New tripeptide-based macrocyclic calpain inhibitors formed by N-alkylation of histidine.

Two new series of 15-membered macrocyclic peptidomimetics, in which the P1 and P3 residues of the peptide backbone are linked by a bridge containing a 1,4-disubstituted 1H-imidazole, are reported. The structure with an aldehyde at the C-terminus and the imidazole at P3, i.e.

Induction of immune responses in sheep by vaccination with liposome-entrapped DNA complexes encoding Toxoplasma gondii MIC3 gene.

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that has been extensively studied due to its medical and veterinary importance in terminating pregnancies. Consequently, a satisfactory vaccine is required to control its adverse effects on pregnant animals. The microneme protein, MIC3, is a major adhesion protein that binds to the surface of host cells and parasites, and is therefore a potential vaccine against T.