Piezoresistive Carbon Nanofiber-Based Cilia-Inspired Flow Sensor.

Evolving over millions of years, hair-like natural flow sensors called cilia, which are found in fish, crickets, spiders, and inner ear cochlea, have achieved high resolution and sensitivity in flow sensing. In the pursuit of achieving such exceptional flow sensing performance in artificial sensors, researchers in the past have attempted to mimic the material, morphological, and functional properties of biological cilia sensors, to develop MEMS-based artificial cilia flow sensors. However, the fabrication of bio-inspired artificial cilia sensors involves complex and cumbersome micromachining techniques that lay constraints on the choice of materials, and prolongs the time taken to research, design, and fabricate new and novel designs, subsequently increasing the time-to-market.

Serotyping of chlamydial clinical isolates from birds with monoclonal antibodies.

Forty-nine avian chlamydial strains, isolated mainly from various regions in France and from different species of birds, were analyzed and tested with a panel of nine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) by the indirect microimmunofluorescence test (MIF). The MAbs included five serovar-specific MAbs, three MAbs raised against Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pecorum ovine strains, and one genus-specific MAb. Of the 49 isolates, 41 came from parrots or budgerigars; the rest were from pigeons, a canary, a duck, and a dove.

[Infection by avian chlamydiosis in breeding pigeons in New Caledonia].

An epidemiological survey on avian chlamydiosis, carried out by serological probing in 8 pigeon breeders representative of New Caledonian livestock, combined with bacteriological research on pigeon organs and droppings was set up in New Caledonia in order to determine the prevalence rate of this infection and to adapt sanitary regulations concerning pigeon imports. All sera collected (230) were analysed by complement fixation test (CFT). The organs were diluted in sucrose solution, then stored frozen (-70 degrees C), until inoculation of the yolk-sac of 3 6-8-day-old embryonated eggs (2 blind passages).

Biotinylated probes to detect Leptospira interrogans on dot blot hybridization or by in situ hybridization.

Total genomic biotinylated probes which can identify leptospires by hybridization on filters or by in situ hybridization are described in this study. According to the weak G + C content of the strains studied (35-39%) and owing to the decreasing melting temperature (Tm) due to overbiotinylation, hybridization and wash temperatures were optimized at 33 degrees C and at 42 degrees C respectively. Fourteen serovars of Leptospira interrogans belonging to 11 different serogroups and three serovars of Leptospira biflexa were used in this study.

[Experimental paratuberculosis: biological diagnosis in calves inoculated with strains of mycobactin-dependent mycobacteria].

During an experiment on the pathogenicity of mycobactin-dependent mycobacteria strains for calf, the kinetics of antibody formation during infection was studied. The progress of cellular immunity was followed by examining delayed hypersensitivity using four allergens (bovine tuberculin HCSM, avian tuberculin HCSM, avian tuberculin PPD, and johnin PPD), and that of humoral immunity using complement fixation test and ELISA. Simultaneously, the elimination of bacilli in the faeces was examined.

Respiratory disease (rhinotracheitis) in turkeys in Brittany, France, 1981-1982. I. Field observations and serology.

During the summer of 1981, a respiratory disease epidemic occurred in turkeys in Brittany, France. Since this initial epizootic, which lasted through fall, epizootic waves similar to the initial one have occurred at approximately 6-month intervals, with smaller peaks at 2-month intervals. The epidemiology, clinical signs, and postmortem findings were highly suggestive of an epizootic of chlamydiosis.

[Results of a serological survey made in France (Vendeé region) in domestic ducks].

The sera of domestic ducks were examined for antibodies to several infectious agents of palmipeds during the winter of 1982 in the abattoirs in la Vendée, an important region of duck production in the West of France. The performance of each batch and their antecedents was also studied. In Barbary ducks and crossbred ducks (from male wild ducks and female domestic ducks), antibodies were found to the virus of egg drop syndrome 16 (EDS 76), to Newcastle disease virus (NDV), to duck hepatitis virus and to chlamydia psittici.

[Comparison of counterimmunoelectrophoresis with standard serological tests in the diagnosis of ovine brucellosis].

Sera from 30 sheep experimentally infected and from 126 others with chronic brucellosis were comparatively studied by serum agglutination (SA), complement fixation (CF), rose bengal (RB), and counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) test. Standard serological tests, particularly SA and RB, essentially detect antibodies against cell-wall fractions of Brucella (LPS), whereas CIEP responds to intracellular antigens. Antibodies involved in this test appear late but remain a long time in the sera.

[Serologic diagnosis of bovine and ovine brucellosis by a buffered antigen test].

In the first part the authors compare the results of the test effected by means of a buffered antigen (EAT) whose cellular concentration was about 10%, with those of slow seroagglutination (SAW) and complement fixation (FC). Like the complement fixation, the buffered antigen test is more specific than seroagglutination. On the other hand, with such an antigen concentration the test lacks sensitivity.

[Immunization of ewes against experimental Brucella melitensis infection: comparison of eleven vaccines].

A comparative study of 11 antibrucellic vaccines has been carried out in the Limousin region of 360 ewe-lambs divided into groups of 30, a 12th group serving as control. After being vaccinated at 8 months, the ewe-lambs were covered between 9 1/2 and 10 1/2 months, then infected at 11 months with Br. melitensis strain 53 H 38 by instillation of 4 x 10(6) germs on the conjonctiva.