ABSTRACT
In a previous study, an apathogenic strain of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) cloned as a bacterial artificial chromosome and expressing a chimeric peptide (gE2/gD) as a secreted form was described. Recombinant virus-inoculated animals produced antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) gE2 and BoHV-1 gD. However, neutralizing antibodies were produced only against BVDV, not against BoHV-1. In the present work a recombinant BoHV-4 expressing a membrane-linked form of gE2/gD chimeric peptide was constructed, and inoculated rabbits produced serum-neutralizing antibodies against both BVDV and BoHV-1. Protein cell sorting and targeting are a very important issue when immunodominant antigens are engineered for recombinant virus vaccine development.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antigens, Heterophile/metabolism , Herpesvirus 4, Bovine/immunology , Viral Proteins/metabolism , Viral Vaccines/immunology , Animals , Antigens, Heterophile/immunology , Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral/genetics , Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral/immunology , Herpesvirus 4, Bovine/genetics , Protein Transport , Rabbits , Viral Proteins/immunologyABSTRACT
In Italy, access to the degree course in veterinary medicine is regulated each academic year by a government decree that sets the maximum student intake number for each of the 14 existing faculties. Candidates are selected by means of a multiple-choice test on the following subjects: logic and general knowledge, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Data for the 2005/2006 academic year are presented here. Overall, 4,495 candidates took the test and 1,415 (31.5%) qualified. The questions relating to physics and mathematics were more difficult than those in other subjects (p < 0.001). Logic and general knowledge was the subject in which candidates' knowledge was best. Separate data for each of the 14 Italian faculties are presented, along with the cut-off score for admission. In addition, a "difficulty admission index" has been calculated for each faculty centre.
Subject(s)
College Admission Test , Education, Veterinary/standards , School Admission Criteria , Students/psychology , Students/statistics & numerical data , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , ItalyABSTRACT
Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever in humans, has been associated with abortion in cattle. In this study 650 sera from cattle with abortion and 600 randomly-selected control sera were examined for antibodies to C. burnetii by ELISA. Two hundred and ninety-two (44.9%) out of 650 animals which experienced abortion were seropositive versus 132 (22%) out of 600 of the control group. A statistically significant difference resulted from the comparison of the seroprevalence of aborted cattle with that of controls (p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant higher prevalence was disclosed in cattle which aborted during late gestation (p < 0.002) and in the autumn (p < 0.001).
