Characterization and antimicrobial activity of lectins from Penicillium sp.

Ten Penicillium sp. were screened for lectin activity for occurrence of lectins. Mycelial extracts from submerged cultures of P. corylophilum, P. expansum and P. purpurogenum showed agglutination against human (A, B, AB and O), goat, sheep, pig and rabbit erythrocytes. Neuraminidase treatment to human blood type O erythrocytes substantially increased their agglutinability by all the lectins as compared to untreated erythrocytes. Modification of erythrocyte surfaces by protease increased the lectin titre only of P. corylophilum with no effect on other two lectins. P. corylophilum and P. expansum displayed relatively lower titres in mycelial extracts prepared from agar plate cultures as compared to broth cultures. A panel of sugars was tested for inhibition of lectin activity. All the lectins were found to be specific for asialofetuin, bovine submaxillary mucin, porcine stomach mucin, chondroitin-6-sulphate, D-sucrose and D-glucose. P. corylophilum lectin was expressed (Titre 8) by 5 day old cultures, reaching its maximum level (Titre 32) upon 8 days of cultivation, thereafter declin in lectin activity was observed. P. purpurogenum lectin was expressed by 7-10 days old cultures, while in P. expansum maximum lectin activity was elaborated by 5-8 days old cultures. Lectin extracts from all the three species were found to possess antimicrobial activities. Lectin extracts from the three Penicillium species displayed antifungal activity and antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains.

Serosurveillance for Japanese encephalitis virus infection among equines in India

The seroprevalence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) among equines was evaluated from January 2006 to December 2009 in 13 different states of India by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and virus neutralization test (VNT). Antibodies against JEV were detected in 327 out of 3,286 (10%) equines with a maximum prevalence reported in the state of Manipur (91.7%) followed by Gujarat (18.5%), Madhya Pradesh (14.4%), and Uttar Pradesh (11.6%). Evidence of JEV infection was observed in equines in Indore (Madhya Pradesh) where a 4-fold or higher rise in antibody titer was observed in 21 out of 34 horses in November 2007 to October 2006. In March 2008, seven of these horses had a subsequent 4-fold rise in JEV antibody titers while this titer decreased in nine animals. JEV-positive horse sera had a JEV/WNV (West Nile virus) ratio over 2.0 according to the HI and/or VNT. These results indicated that JEV is endemic among equines in India.

Antigenic characterization of canine parvovirus isolates from Brazil using specific monoclonal antibodies / Caracterização antigênica de isolados de parvovirus canino do Brasil utilizando monoclonais específicos

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is an emerged pathogen in dogs, first isolated in 1978 in the USA. The original 1978 strain was designated CPV type 2 (CPV-2). However, analysis of CPV isolates in the USA by restriction enzymes and monoclonal antibodies have shown that around the year 1979 a CPV variant strain, designated CPV type 2a (CPV-2a), became widespread. Subsequently, a new antigenic strain, designated CPV type 2b (CPV-2b), was also observed by analysis of CPV isolates from various parts of the world, although the proportion of each strains was different between countries. In this study, the Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) test with a panel of monoclonal antibodies was used to type canine parvovirus strains in 29 fecal samples collected from symptomatic dogs from 1980 to 1986 and from 1990 to 1995. The results showed a strong predominance of the antigenic type 2a indicating that the CPV epizooty in Brazil followed the same pattern observed in European and Asian countries.

O Parvovírus Canino (CPV) é um patógeno emergente em cães, isolado pela primeira vez em 1978, nos Estados Unidos. A amostra original de 1978 foi designada CPV tipo 2 (CPV-2). Entretanto, análises de isolados de CPV dos Estados Unidos, por enzimas de restrição e anticorpos monoclonais demonstraram que cerca de 1979, uma amostra variante, designada CPV tipo 2a (CPV-2a) tornou-se prevalente. Subseqüentemente, uma nova amostra antigênica, designada CPV tipo 2b (CPV-2b) também foi observada por análises de isolados de CPV de várias partes do mundo, embora a proporção fosse diferente entre os países. Nesse estudo, foi utilizado o teste de Inibição da Hemaglutinação (HI) com um painel de anticorpos monoclonais para a tipagem de 29 amostras fecais de parvovirus canino, coletadas de cães sintomáticos de 1980 a 1986 e de 1990 a 1995. Os resultados indicaram uma forte predominância do tipo antigênico 2a indicando que a epizootia de CPV no Brasil seguiu o mesmo padrão observados na Europa e países Asiáticos.

STUDY ON DISTRIBUTION OF Gm(2)FACTOR IN CHINESE POPULATION LIVING IN BEIJING AND DETECTION FROM BLOODSTAINS / 中国法医学杂志

The investigation on distribution of Gm(2)facotor in 269 Chinese people living in Beijing was carried out using haemagglutination inhibition test and anti-Gm(2)sera from the Biotest Diagnosis of West Germany.Results revealed that Gm(2)factors was positive in 78 cases(29%),while negative in 191 cases(71%).Gm(2)phenotyping were(?)erformed successfully in 230 bloodstains, 14 months old,made of fresh blood selected from 269 samples of known Gm(2) phenotype.Detection of Gm(2)factors was carried out in 11 crime cases.Sus- pects were excluded in 4 cases.