Characteristics and Pathogenicity of the Cell-Adapted Attenuated Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus of the Non-S INDEL Cluster

The high antigenic diversity of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) means that porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a challenge for the global pig industry. Understanding the circulation of the virus to determine an optimal vaccine strategy is important in controlling the disease. In this study, we describe the genetic diversity of circulating PEDV based on the full sequences of spike genes of eight positive samples collected in Vietnam since 2018. Additionally, we developed a live attenuated vaccine candidate from the cell-adapted PEDV2 strain, which was continuously passaged until level 103 in VERO-CCL81 cells. PEDV2-p103, which belongs to the emerging non-S INDEL cluster, exhibited low virus shedding, did not induce lesions in the small intestine of challenged piglets, and had a high titer in the VERO-CCL81 cell at 48 h post-infection. These results suggest that the PEDV2-p103 strain could be a potential oral attenuated vaccine, and its immunogenicity and efficacy should be further assessed through in vivo tests.

Prospecting of anti-Candida bioactive in Origanum vulgare L. artisanal essential oil

Candida albicans is a yeast belonging to the normal microbiota of the human body, considered the most pathogenic species of the genus. It is the main microorganism related to candidiasis. Essential oils of Origanum vulgare have phenolic compounds, such as thymol and carvacrol, which have an effective antimycobacterial character at certain concentrations, but little is known about its biological activity in artisanal preparation. Thus, we evaluated the resistance of standard strains of opportunistic yeast C. albicans against in vitro antifungal activity of artisanal extract of O. vulgare. An inoculum of the challenger was subjected to different concentrations of the fungicidal agent in solidified Muller Hinton and broth followed by incubation at 35°C. The oil was prepared in a manner similar to a possible homemade procedure, and was further sterilized to ensure homogeneity of the indicator. The readings were performed in two days every 24 hours so that there were different possible moments of growth. The tests, which occurred in triplicate, showed that, under experimental conditions, the yeast was resistant to the essential oil compounds at all observed concentrations. Morphological variation was observed in both colonies and yeast cells. Based on analyzes, the artisanal essential oil is incorporated as a promising candidate for the development of antimycotics for clinical use, although in vivo tests are required.

Functional Living Skills: A Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Training for Individuals with Major Neurocognitive Disorders

The loss of functional living skills (FLS) is an essential feature of major neurocognitive disorders (M-NCD); virtual reality training (VRT) offers many possibilities for improving FLS in people with M-NCD. The aim of our study was to verify the effectiveness of a non-immersive VRT on FLS for patients with M-NCD. VRT was carried out for 10 to 20 sessions, by means of four 3D apps developed in our institute and installed on a large touch screen. The experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG) included 24 and 18 patients with M-NCD, respectively. They were administered the in vivo test (in specific hospital places reproducing the natural environments) at T1 (pre-training) and T3 (post-training); at T2, only EG was administered VRT. Statistically significant differences between EG and CG in all the in vivo tests were found in the number of correct responses; during VRT, the number of correct responses increased, while the execution times and the number of clues decreased. The improvement in the in vivo tests appeared to be related to the specific VRT applied. The satisfaction of participants with the VRT was moderate to high.

Bioautography and antifusaric activity of three tar extracts from the pyrolysis of three plants growing wild in the south-west of Algeria

Vegetable tars are newly formed resinous products extracted by pyrolysis from wood or bark. Since prehistoric times, they have been used for their adhesive, water-repellent, repellent and finally medicinal properties. This work investigated the use of these vegetable tars as sources of bio-fungicides. The physicochemical properties of the tars obtained in the labor-atories showed a significant yield of 1.22%, 0.66% and 0.51% respectively for the wood of (Jeniperus phoenicea, Olea europeae sylvestris and Acacia torti-lis Sub raddiana). They also showed a density value of 1.22 and a refractive index of about 1.5115 for J.phoenicea, an acid number of 0.39 and a dry matter ratio of 19.86% for A. tortilis Sub raddiana. Considerable antifungal activity of the acetate of three tars against certain fungal phytopathogens (Fusarium) was observed with the most remarkable MIC values ranging from 0.1 mg / ml to 0.46 mg / ml. The J. phoenicea extracts were more active against F. oxysporum f sp albedinis (FOA) strains. The growth of F. solani was more sensitive to acetate extracts from O. europeae. Dichloromethane ex-tracts of A. tortilis Sub raddiana yielded with an average MIC of 0.16 and 1.02 mg / ml, respectively for strains of F. oxysporum and F. graminearum. The bioautography test revealed the presence of 3 antifusaric molecules of interest. These MIC results further merit in vivo tests for the development of future biofungicides.

Narrowing down the number of potential plant-based probiotic candidates by successive in vitro, technological and in vivo assays

The interest on plant-based fermented food is in raise in Western countries. The aim of this study was to select interleukin (IL)-10 inducing strains for the development of potential probiotic plant-based fermented foods. Departing from a collection of 52 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains derived from plant material, in vitro co-culture with murine macrophages allowed us to narrow down the number of candidates to 21 strains able to induce IL-10 secretion. 14 of these strains were able to promote the production of tumour necrosis factor-α too. The capacity to induce IL-6 was used to further reduce the number of strains to 4, from which Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LpAv was selected to ferment oat and carrots. L. plantarum LpAv was able to ferment oat and carrots until reaching counts of ca. 108 and 109 cfu/ml. Fermented oat and carrots were orally administered to mice for 10 consecutive days and challenged with a single infective dose of Salmonella enterica serovar. Typhimurium. Counts of L. plantarum LpAv in fermented carrots were 9.23±0.05 cfu/ml and 9.27±0.01 cfu/ml, at day 1 and 10 of the feeding period. Fermented carrots were able to confer enhanced protection (80% of survival) against infection, when compared to control mice (less than 25% of survival). However, L. plantarum LpAv administered as pure culture was not able to confer protection against Salmonella infection. L. plantarum LpAv was selected among 52 plant-derived LAB and it was able to ferment oat and carrots, being only fermented carrots able to confer enhanced protection against Salmonella infection. A succession of in vitro to in vivo tests is proposed as a tool to narrow down the number of candidates when searching for potential novel probiotics from a collection of autochthonous strains.

Neuroprotective Effect and Antioxidant Potency of Fermented Cultured Wild Ginseng Root Extracts of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer in Mice

Wild ginseng has better pharmacological effects than cultivated ginseng. However, its industrialization is limited by the inability to grow wild ginseng on a large scale. Herein, we demonstrate how to optimize ginseng production through cultivation, and how to enhance the concentrations of specific ginsenosides through fermentation. In the study, we also evaluated the ability of fermented cultured wild ginseng root extract (HLJG0701-β) to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as well as its neuroprotective effects and antioxidant activity. In in vitro tests, HLJG0701-β inhibited AChE activity and exerted neuroprotective and antioxidant effects (showing increased catalyst activity but decreased reactive oxygen species concentration). In in vivo tests, after HLJG0701-β was orally administered at doses of 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg in an animal model of memory impairment, behavioral evaluation (Morris water maze test and Y-maze task test) was performed. The levels of AChE, acetylcholine (ACh), blood catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissues were measured. The results showed that HLJG0701-β produced the best results at a dose of 250 mg/kg or more. The neuroprotective mechanism of HLJG0701-β was determined to involve the inhibition of AChE activity and a decrease in oxidative stress. In summary, both in vitro and in vivo tests confirmed that HJG0701-β administration can lead to memory improvement.

Classification and Production of Polymeric Foams among the Systems for Wound Treatment

This work represents an overview on types of wounds according to their definition, classification and dressing treatments. Natural and synthetic polymeric wound dressings types have been analyzed, providing a historical overview, from ancient to modern times. Currently, there is a wide choice of materials for the treatment of wounds, such as hydrocolloids, polyurethane and alginate patches, wafers, hydrogels and semi-permeable film dressings. These systems are often loaded with drugs such as antibiotics for the simultaneous delivery of drugs to prevent or cure infections caused by the exposition of blood vessel to open air. Among the presented techniques, a focus on foams has been provided, describing the most diffused branded products and their chemical, physical, biological and mechanical properties. Conventional and high-pressure methods for the production of foams for wound dressing are also analyzed in this work, with a proposed comparison in terms of process steps, efficiency and removal of solvent residue. Case studies, in vivo tests and models have been reported to identify the real applications of the produced foams.