A Retrospective Study of the Prevalence of Virulence Factors of Escherichia Coli Causing Postweaning Diarrhoea in Spain.

Background: Postweaning diarrhoea is one of the most prevalent disease which occurs after weaning. The aim of the study reports the prevalence of virulence factors of Escherichia coli from clinical cases of postweaning diarrhoea on Spanish pig farms based on PCR directly from pooling of faeces samples. A total of 328 pig farms with acute cases of postweaning diarrhoea were sampled, between January 2018 and December 2020. These farms were all located in Spain. Animals were selected based on clinical signs (diarrhoea, dehydration, and increased mortality). A total of 984 four- to eight-week-old pigs within the first 24 hours of the acute phase of the disease were sampled and three rectal swabs were collected from three different pigs on each farm.Results: A total of 328 farms with PWD cases were analyzed between 2018 and 2020. The classification was based on the presence or absence of the different Escherichia coli’s virulence factors. Only 1.2% (4 out of 328) of farms were negative for all the Escherichia coli’s virulence genes. Adhesin involved in diffuse adherence was the most prevalent adhesion factor (68.6%) followed by F18 (67.7%) and F4 (53.4%). Conclusions: the present study shows the high prevalence Escherichia coli in postweaning diarrhoea cases. There is a high degree of variability in the Escherichia coli’s virulence factors within country as well as differences between countries. Further Investigation is needed to fight against postweaning diarrhoea since the use of zinc oxide will be withdrawn from veterinary medicinal products on 26 June 2022 [26,27]and the responsible use of antibiotics is being regulated very closely to be used only when is necessary.

A large lipoprotein mediates target specificity for T6SS-dependent killing

Interbacterial competition is prevalent in host-associated microbiota, where it can shape community structure and function, impacting host health in both positive and negative ways. However, the factors that permit bacteria to discriminate among their various neighbors for targeted elimination of competitors remain elusive. We identified a specificity factor in Vibrio species that is used to target specific competitors for elimination. Here, we describe this specificity factor, which is associated with the broadly-distributed type VI secretion system (T6SS), by studying symbiotic Vibrio fischeri, which use the T6SS to compete for colonization sites in their squid host. We demonstrate that a large lipoprotein (TasL) allows V. fischeri cells to restrict T6SS-dependent killing to certain genotypes by selectively integrating competitor cells into aggregates while excluding other cell types. TasL is also required for T6SS-dependent competition within juvenile squid, indicating the adhesion factor is active in the host. Because TasL homologs are found in other host-associated bacterial species, this newly-described specificity factor has the potential to impact microbiome structure within diverse hosts.

LncRNA LPAL2/miR-1287-5p/EGFR axis modulates TED derived orbital fibroblast activation through cell adhesion factors

Background and aims The activation of orbital fibroblasts, the prime targets in thyroid eye disease, is central to its underlying pathogenesis. We aimed to investigate the mechanism of thyroid eye disease orbital fibroblast activation from the perspective of non-coding RNA regulation. Methods Immunofluorescence (IF) staining was applied to evaluate the fibrotic changes in target cells. Cell proliferation were evaluated by EDU and colony formation assays. Collagen I concentration was determined by ELISA assay. Human microarray analysis was performed on three thyroid eye disease and 3 healthy control orbital tissue samples. Results Bioinformatics analysis showed that cell adhesion signaling factors were differentially expressed in thyroid eye disease tissues, including I-CAM-1, I-CAM-4, V-CAM, and CD44, which were all upregulated in diseased orbital tissues. LncRNA LPAL2 level was also upregulated in orbital tissues and positively correlated with I-CAM-1 and I-CAM-4 expression. Stimulation of the thyroid eye disease orbital fibroblasts by TGF-β1 significantly increased the expression of I-CAM-1, I-CAM-4, and LPAL2. Knockdown of LPAL2 in orbital fibroblasts inhibited TGF-β1-induced increases in cell adhesion factor levels and orbital fibroblast activation. Microarray profiling was performed on thyroid eye disease and normal orbital tissues to identify differentially expressed miRNAs and miR-1287-5p was remarkably reduced within diseased orbital samples. miR-1287-5p was directly bound to EGFR 3’UTR and LPAL2 and LPAL2 modulated EGFR/AKT signaling through targeting miR-1287-5p. Conclusions The LPAL2/miR-1287-5p axis modulated TGF-β1-induced increases in cell adhesion factor levels and thyroid eye disease orbital fibroblast activation through EGFR/AKT signaling.

Effect of dexmedetomidine on oxidative stress response and expression of intracellular adhesion factor-1 (ICAM-1) and S100B in patients

[Abstract] Objective: To study the effect of dexmedetomidine on oxidative stress response and the expression of intracellular adhesion factor-1 (ICAM-1) and S100B in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method: TBI patients treated in our hospital from May 2017 to April 2019 were enrolled in the study and divided into control group and treatment group by random number table method. The treatment group was administered with dexmedetomidine injection via intravenous pump on the basis of conventional treatment in the control group. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) were used to evaluate patients’ injury, recovery and prognosis. ELISA method was taken to detect 4 oxidative stress index levels including serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation (LPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), as well as ICAM-1 and S100B levels at admission and at different time points after operation. Results: At 3d and 14 d after operation, the treatment group had higher GCS score than the control group (P<0.05).At 30 d, 90 d and 180 d after discharge, the treatment group had higher GOS score than the control group (P<0.05). At 3d, 5d, and 14d after operation, the treatment group had higher SOD activity than the control group (P<0.05). Immediately after operation, at 3d, 5d, and 14d after operation, the treatment group had higher LPO level than the control group (P<0.05); at 3d, 5d, and 14d after operation, blood MDA level gradually decreased in both groups, which was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05); at 3d, 5d and 14d after operation, the treatment group had higher TAC activity in the blood than the control group (P<0.05). At 3d, 5d and 14d after operation, the treatment group had lower S100B level than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine can relieve TBI-induced oxidative stress state and reduce the levels of brain injury markers (ICAM-1, S100B), which has a protective effect on the brain tissue with TBI.