Cationic Polylactic Acid-Based Nanoparticles Improve BSA-FITC Transport Across M Cells and Engulfment by Porcine Alveolar Macrophages.

This work described the development of a cationic polylactic acid (PLA)-based nanoparticles (NPs) as an antigen delivery system using dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA) to facilitate the engulfment of BSA-FITC by porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/2 cells) and heat-labile enterotoxin subunit B (LTB) to enhance the transport of BSA-FITC across M cells. The experimental design methodology was employed to study the influence of PLA, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), DDA, and LTB on the physical properties of the PLA-based NPs. The size of selected cationic PLA NPs comprising 5% PLA, 5% PVA, and 0.6% DDA with or without LTB absorption was range from 367 to 390 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.26, a zeta potential of + 26.00 to + 30.55 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 41.43%. Electron micrographs revealed NPs with spherical shape. The release kinetic of BSA from the NPs followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetics. The cationic PLA NPs with LTB surface absorption showed 3-fold increase in BSA-FITC transported across M cells compared with the NPs without LTB absorption. The uptake studies demonstrated 2-fold increase in BSA-FITC intensity in 3D4/2 cells with cationic NPs as compared with anionic NPs. Overall, the results suggested that LTB decreased the retention time of BSA-FITC loaded in the cationic PLA NPs within the M cells, thus promoting the transport of BSA-FITC across the M cells, and cationic NPs composed of DDA help facilitate the uptake of BSA-FITC in the 3D4/2 cells. Further studies in pigs with respiratory antigens will provide information on the efficacy of cationic PLA NPs as a nasal antigen carrier system.

Immune response of gilts to single and double infection with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus.

Immune response of gilts following single and double infection with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) at gilt acclimatization and prepartum were investigated. One hundred PEDV-naïve gilts were divided into two groups: negative (Neg) and feedback (FB) groups. Antibody responses in serum, colostrum, and milk samples were measured by IgG/IgA ELISA and virus neutralization assay (VN). Fecal shedding was investigated using RT-PCR. In summary, a single infection at gilt acclimatization resulted in slightly increased serum antibody titers as determined by VN assay and IgG ELISA, but not by IgA ELISA. Viral RNA was detected in fecal samples up to 6 days post-exposure. A double infection at prepartum resulted in significantly increased IgA and VN titers in milk samples compared to the single-infection group. No fecal shedding was detected following the double infection.

Full-length genome analysis of two genetically distinct variants of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in Thailand.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has continued to cause sporadic outbreaks in Thailand since 2007 and a pandemic variant containing an insertion and deletion in the spike gene was responsible for outbreaks. In 2014, there were further outbreaks of the disease occurring within four months of each other. In this study, the full-length genome sequences of two genetically distinct PEDV isolates from the outbreaks were characterized. The two PEDV isolates, CBR1/2014 and EAS1/2014, were 28,039 and 28,033 nucleotides in length and showed 96.2% and 93.6% similarities at nucleotide and amino acid levels respectively. In total, we have observed 1048 nucleotide substitutions throughout the genome. Compared to EAS1/2014, CBR1/2014 has 2 insertions of 4 ((56)GENQ(59)) and 1 ((140)N) amino acid positions 56-59 and 140, and 2 deletions of 2 ((160)DG(161)) and 1 ((1199)Y) amino acid positions 160-161 and 1199. The phylogenetic analysis based on full-length genome of CBR1/2014 isolate has grouped the virus with the pandemic variants. In contrast, EAS1/2014 isolate was grouped with CV777, LZC and SM98, a classical variant. Our findings demonstrated the emergence of EAS1/2014, a classical variant which is novel to Thailand and genetically distinct from the currently circulating endemic variants. This study warrants further investigations into molecular epidemiology and genetic evolution of the PEDV in Thailand.

Solid state interconversion between anhydrous norfloxacin and its hydrates.

This work is focused on characterizing and evaluating the solid state interconversion of norfloxacin (NF) hydrates. Four stoichiometric NF hydrates, dihydrate, hemipentahydrate, trihydrate, pentahydrate and a disordered NF state, were generated by various methods and characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD), thermal analysis and Karl Fisher titrimetry. XRPD patterns of all NF hydrates exhibited crystalline structures. NF hydrate conversion was studied with respect to mild elevated temperature and various degrees of moisture levels. NF hydrates transformed to anhydrous NF Form A after gentle heating at 60 degrees C for 48 h except dihydrate and trihydrate where mixture in XRPD patterns between anhydrous NF Form A and former structures existed. Desiccation of NF hydrates at 0% RH for 7 days resulted in only partial removal of water molecules from the hydrated structures. The hydrated transitional phase and the disordered NF state were obtained from the incomplete dehydration of NF hydrates after thermal treatment and pentahydrate NF after desiccation, respectively. Anhydrous NF Form A and NF hydrates transformed to pentahydrate NF when exposed to high moisture environment except dihydrate. In conclusion, surrounding moisture levels, temperatures and the duration of exposure strongly influenced the interconversion pathways and stoichiometry of anhydrous NF and its hydrates.