Retrieving Historical Cases of Aujeszky’s Disease in Sicily (Italy): Report of a Natural Outbreak Affecting Sheep, Goats, Dogs, Cats and Foxes and Considerations on Critical Issues and Perspectives in Light of the Recent EU Regulation 429/2016

Aujeszky’s disease is caused by Suid alphaherpesvirus 1, and its main reservoir host is the pig. However, other species are also susceptible. Infection with this virus causes a severe neurological clinical picture named Aujeszky’s disease, usually accompanied by itching and death a few days after the onset of symptoms. This study reports a multi-species outbreak of Aujeszky’s disease that occurred in Sicily, which led to the death of 2 goats, 15 sheep, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 foxes. The diagnosis was made by culture, indirect immunofluorescence on brain samples and confirmed by biological test on rabbits. This study reports the first cases of Aujeszky’s disease in Italy in cats, goat and sheep. The finding of Aujeszky’s disease in several species in Sicily suggests a potential epizootic risk. In such areas where a multi-host system is recognised, an analysis of the risk factors should be carried out in order to develop targeted strategies for the control and eradication of the disease. The critical issues that hinder the control of Aujeszky’s disease in the studied territory and perspectives for eradication in the light of EU regulation 429/2016 are also discussed.

Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Pyrimidine Derivatives Containing an Amide Moiety

In this study, 17 novel pyrimidine derivatives containing an amide moiety were synthesized. Then their in vitro antifungal activities against Botryosphaeria dothidea (B. dothidea), Phomopsis sp., and Botrytis cinereal (B. cinereal) were determined. A preliminary biological test showed that compounds 5-bromo-2-fluoro-N-(2-((2-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-4-yl)oxy)phenyl)benzamide (5f) and 5-bromo-2-fluoro-N-(3-((2-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-4-yl)oxy)phenyl)benzamide (5o) exhibited higher antifungal activity against Phomopsis sp., with an inhibition rate of 100% compared to that of Pyrimethanil at 85.1%. In particular, compound 5o exhibited excellent antifungal activity against Phompsis sp., with the EC50 value of 10.5 μg/ml, which was even better than that of Pyrimethanil (32.1 μg/ml). As far as we know, this is the first report on the antifungal activities against B. dothidea, Phomopsis sp., and B. cinereal of this series of pyrimidine derivatives containing an amide moiety.

Identification of Novel GSK-3β Inhibitors through Docking Based Virtual Screening and Biological Evaluation

GSK-3β is a key regulator in insulin, Wnt and NF-κB signaling pathways. Dysregulation of GSK-3β is often related to tumors and diabetes. Inhibiting it might provide cure for diabetes, tumors, neurodegeneration and brain ischemia. Although there are a number of reported GSK-3β inhibitors, the scaffold is limited. Herein we report a discriminatory analysis-based molecular docking on the Specs database, and identified 3 novel GSK-3β inhibitors with moderate IC50 (ranging from 17.42 μM to 6.74 μM) in the following in vitro biological test. Further dynamic simulations and docking pose analysis were performed to give a better understanding on the binding conformation of 3 hit compounds AK- 777/09836064, AK-968/37185006 and AN-698/41607072, which would provide basis for further optimization.

Superior Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Screening from Various Rhizobiome in Palm Oil Plantion, North Sangatta, East Kalimantan

Nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB) plays an important role in increasing N availability for plants. Research to examine the ability of nitrogen fixing bacteria isolates to produce nitrogenase, phytohormone and the ability of nitrogen fixing bacteria isolates in the biological test process using the corn plant indicator as an indicator has been carried out from September 2018 to February 2019 in laboratories and greenhouses. The ability of nitrogen fixing bacteria was tested by the ARA method, while the phytohormone testing of nitrogen fixing bacteria was tested using the HPLC method. Bioassays using Murphy media and corn plants as indicators were performed using a randomized block design consisting of six treatments (one control and five selected NFB isolates from the selection results) and given five replications. Measurement of root length, plant height, and dry weight of plants were carried out every 2 days for 14 days. The results showed that the nitrogen fixing bacteria isolates used from North Sangattarhizobiome, East Kalimantan had different nitrogenase and differentphytohormone test results, and obtained five selected isolates based on the selection results. The results of the bioassay did not show any significant differences based on the Duncan test at the level of 5%. However, it can be seen visually the significant difference in which plants in the biological test using nitrogen fixing bacterial isolates have relatively higher plant growth and dry weight of plants than plants that are not given treatment or control.

Biological Test for Triazine Efficacy Eradication of Pathogenic Bacteria, Ranyah, KSA

The objectives were to use triazine chemico-pharmaco complexes to test their efficacy eradication of pathogenic bacteria were Staphylococcous aureus (Staph. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Average eradication of Staph. aureus was obvious in samples 4 and 5, followed by 2 and then 1 and 3. The ratio were duple from the preceding one. While for E. coli included the fifth sample, then fourth, then first, second and third. It was quick, but not duplication, to reach complete eradication. Average turbidity degree of Staph. aureus presented in the fourth and fifth samples at 10 hr, then the second sample at 12 hr and the rest at 14 hr. From the average turbidity degree, it turned out that the turbidity gradually disappeared and moved from one degree to another after two hours, while at 12 hr and 14 hr it was in the same class and reached the absence of turbidity degree at 14 hr. So long, for E. coli was disappeared in the fifth sample at 10 hr, followed by the fourth sample at 12 hr and the rest at 4 hr. From the average turbidity degree, it was gradually disappeared. The present study concluded that from test results showed newly prepared of triazine chemico-pharmaco complexes displayed a good antibacterial activity by efficacy eradication of pathogenic bacteria. While also showed triazine chemico-pharmaco complexes may be a talented pattern for antibacterial activities. This research also recommended triazine chemico-pharmaco complexes may use as substitution of antibiotics against antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria.

Alkaloid compound from Tombili (Caesalpinia bonduc) as biopesticide agent on rice plants

The purpose of these study is to determine the effect of active compound from tombili seed extract as a vegetable pesticide in the prevention of soil pest in rice plants. The method of these researches is isolation to obtain pure isolates, characterization by using infrared spectrophotometer (IR) and UV-VIS spectrophotometer then following biological test. The isolates obtained were tested positive for phytochemical containing alkaloid compounds and characterized as amorphous crystals. Identification of IR spectrophotometer generate a functioning -NH wave group of the wavelengths region of 3423.4 cm-1, bend C-N at wave number 1242.1 cm-1, C-H stretch at wave number 2925.8 and 2854.5 cm-1, bend C-H at 1475 wave numbers 1540 cm-1, carbonyl group (C = O) at the 1720.4 cm-1 wave number which is probably an alkaloid compound. The UV-VIS spectrophotometer results in a maximum absorption at 209.9 nm wavelengths indicated the presence of double bonds between the C = O functional group suspected as a result of the successive electronic transitions to n-π * and n-σ *. The result of biological test showed that methanol extracts of tombili seed can be used as a vegetable pesticide in pest prevention on rice plants, the most effective concentration used in this biological test is at 0.1% concentration, with very high effectiveness in eradicating pest on rice plants.

Antileishmanial Properties of Moroccan Medicinal Plants and Mechanism Insights of their Main Compounds

For several years, leishmaniasis was considered serious problem health of the Moroccan population. The used treatments against leishmaniasis are mostly expensive and present intolerable side effects. Furthermore, the search for antileishmanial bioactive compounds is urgent. Today, some studies started in Morocco, the evaluation of antileishmanial effects of natural products, in particular, bioactive compounds extracted from Moroccan medicinal plants. This work aims to explain the general epidemiological situation on the leishmaniasis in Morocco and to present all data about the antileishmanial properties of Moroccan medicinal plants. Several ethnopharmacological studies showed the use of Moroccan medicinal plants against leishmaniasis. The biological test showed that these plants showed cytotoxicity against Leishmania species, such as Leishmania major, Leishmania infantum, and Leishmania tropica. Moreover, mechanism insights of the main compound of tested medicinal plants showed specifically targeted pathways such as apoptosis action, topoisomerase inhibition, and respiratory chain perturbation.