Nutritional Conditions Modulate C. neoformans Extracellular Vesicles’ Capacity to Elicit Host Immune Response

Cryptococcus neoformans is a human pathogenic fungus that mainly afflicts immunocompromised patients. One of its virulence strategies is the production of extracellular vesicles (EVs), containing cargo with immunomodulatory properties. We evaluated EV’s characteristics produced by capsular and acapsular strains of C. neoformans (B3501 and ΔCap67, respectively) growing in nutritionally poor or rich media and co-cultures with bone marrow-derived macrophages or dendritic cells from C57BL/6 mice. EVs produced under a poor nutritional condition displayed a larger hydrodynamic size, contained more virulence compounds, and induced a more robust inflammatory pattern than those produced in a rich nutritional medium, independently of strain. We treated infected mice with EVs produced in the rich medium, and the EVs inhibited more genes related to the inflammasome than untreated infected mice. These findings suggest that the EVs participate in the pathogenic processes that result in the dissemination of C. neoformans. Thus, these results highlight the versatility of EVs’ properties during infection by C. neoformans in different tissues and support ongoing efforts to harness EVs to prevent and treat cryptococcosis.

A study of cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) for intractable ascites associated with cancerous ascites.

205 Background: Intractable ascites associated with cancerous ascites causes severe abdominal distention, loss of appetite, poor nutritional condition and reduce the quality of life. We treat patients suffering from cancerous ascites by Cell-free and Concentrated Ascites Reinfusion Therapy (CART). But, cancerous ascites contains a lot of cellular components, and it easily cause filter obstruction. So we applied new method of CART: KM-CART in cancerous ascites patients. This CART system has a filter cleaning function, so the system has less incidence of filter obstruction. We report on our experience on CART for patients with cancerous ascites. Methods: Since November 2009 to August 2014, we applied CART in 31 cases of cancerous ascites (gastric cancer, 13; colorectal cancer, 6; pancreatic cancer, 10; others, 2). Results: On average, 3.8kg (range 1.2-7.5kg) of ascites were filtrated and concentrated to 440g (70-1110g). In all cases abdominal distention disappeared and abdominal girth decreased. Side effect was only mild fever on 11 cases. Conclusions: CART is safe and effective treatment for patients with cancerous ascites. This treatment may be able to improve quality of life with peritoneal dissemination.

Differences in the digestive organ morphology of captive and wild Brown Teal Anas chlorotis and implications for releases

The digestive tract of many animals is morphologically flexible and can adjust over time to make the most efficient use of the foods available. Differences between captive and wild diets often cause large differences in the gut morphology of captive and wild birds. This is potentially an issue when captive-bred birds are used to establish or supplement populations in the wild, such as in the Brown Teal Anas chlorotis, an endangered duck endemic to New Zealand. We compared the size and mass of the digestive organs (proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, caeca, rectum and liver) of 57 wild, eight captive and four captive-bred released Brown Teal. Captive Brown Teal had much shorter and lighter small intestines and caeca than wild Brown Teal. These differences could reduce the ability of captive-bred teal to efficiently digest a wild diet in the weeks following release, and are likely to contribute to the number of released teal found dead in extremely poor nutritional condition. Increased fibre and diversity in the captive diet together with supplementary feeding post-release are recommended to improve the survival of captive-bred Brown Teal released to the wild.

Social organisation and dominance in relation to resource ascendancy within a selected group of weaned foals

Houpt et al (1977) stated that injuries sustained during dominance hierarchies, and poor nutritional condition of low ranked horses are the most common and serious equine behaviour related problems. Often aggression patterns are exhibited over resource dominance. If optimum management conditions are to be attained, regard for social structure, temperament and dominance within groups is paramount; this may be especially important where enclosed barn or stable environments are used. Studies of social organisation often assume linear relationships, unfortunately this may obscure irregularities found within the social structure (Martin and Bateson 1993, Lehner 1996). This study investigates social structure and how dominance determines resource (concentrate feed) ascendancy.A group of nine foals (n = 5♀,n = 4♂) were directly observed whilst being fed concentrates within an enclosed barn (Figure 1), daily for 40mins over a 25 day period. Dominance and displacement behaviours were observed and collated at 4min intervals via scan sampling. All foals were observed simultaneously and continuously.