Prevention and treatment of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin intoxication in mice with a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (c4D7) produced in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Epsilon toxin (ETX), produced by Clostridium perfringens types B and D, is among the most lethal toxins known. ETX is a potential bioterrorism threat that was listed as a Category B agent by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control until 2012 and it still remains a toxin of interest for several government agencies. We produced a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against ETX (ETX MAb c4D7) in Nicotiana benthamiana and characterized its preventive and therapeutic efficacy in mice. The ETX preparation used was highly lethal for mice (LD50 = 1.6 µg/kg) and resulted in a mean time from inoculation to death of 18 and 180 min when administered intravenously or intraperitoneally, respectively. High lethal challenge resulted in dramatic increases of a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum, while lower, but still lethal doses, did not elicit such responses. ETX MAb c4D7 was highly effective prophylactically (ED50 = 0.3 mg/kg; ED100 = 0.8 mg/kg) and also provided protection when delivered 15-30 min post-ETX intoxication. These data suggest that ETX MAb c4D7 may have use as a pre- and post-exposure treatment for ETX intoxication.

The effect of the beta-2-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol or implantation with oestradiol plus trenbolone acetate on protein metabolism in wether lambs.

The effects of Revalor (trenbolone acetate plus oestradiol) implantation or the inclusion of clenbuterol (a beta-2-adrenergic agonist) in the diet of wether lambs was studied. Using continuous intravenous infusion of [3H]tyrosine the fractional synthetic rate of mixed protein from three separate muscles was measured. Clenbuterol slightly increased growth rate but had a significant (P less than 0.02) effect on food conversion efficiency. The weight and protein content of the longissimus dorsi and vastus lateralis muscles were increased but no such changes were observed for the vastus intermedius. For the longissimus dorsi at least the increase was probably achieved by a reduction in fractional degradation rate of the muscle protein. Revalor significantly increased the growth rate and food conversion efficiency of the animals. This increase was not specific for muscle. Estimated degradation rates of muscle protein were lower in the treated animals. The possible mode of action of these materials was discussed. The results obtained again highlight the importance of protein degradation in controlling growth.