Temporal dysregulation of genes in lamb testis cell during sheeppox virus infection.

The present study was aimed to elucidate the host-virus interactions using RNA-Seq analysis at 1 h and 8 h of post-infection of sheeppox virus (SPPV) in lamb testis cell. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the underlying mechanisms linked to the host immune responses were obtained. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) illustrated the interaction between the DEGs and their involvement in cell signalling responses. Highly connected hubs viz. AURKA, CHEK1, CCNB2, CDC6 and MAPK14 were identified through PPI network analysis. IPA analysis showed that IL-6- and ERK5-mediated signalling pathways were highly enriched at both time points. The TP53 gene was identified to be the leading upstream regulator that directly responded to SPPV infection, resulting in downregulation at both time points. The study provides an overview of how the lamb testis genes and their underlying mechanisms link to growth and immune response during SPPV infection.

Comparative biochemical profiles, utero-ovarian function, and fertility of the postpartum buffalo with and without subclinical endometritis.

In postpartum buffaloes, the process of uterine involution and changes in blood metabolic profile has not been studied in relation to development of subclinical endometritis (SCE). In this study, buffaloes (n = 100) approaching calving were identified. Weekly blood samples were collected on the day of calving up to 6 weeks post-calving. The diameter of uterine horns and onset of ovarian cyclicity (corpus luteum) were recorded through ultrasonography. On the basis of polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) cell count in endometrial cytology at days 45-50 postpartum, buffaloes were divided into two groups, viz., with SCE (> 5% PMN; n = 38) and without SCE (≤ 5% PMN; n = 62). Buffaloes with SCE took longer (P < 0.05) time to complete uterine involution and had larger (P < 0.05) uterine horn diameter between 3rd and 6th weeks postpartum and lower prostaglandin F2α metabolite (PGFM) concentration on the day of calving (P < 0.05) and 1 week (P < 0.001) post-calving than without SCE group. Buffaloes with SCE had lower (P < 0.001) concentration of glucose at weeks 2 and 3, higher (P < 0.001) ß-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) at week 3, and lower serum albumin concentration throughout the sampling period (P < 0.05 to 0.001) except at 1 week post-calving as compared to without SCE group. The urea concentration was significantly lower (P < 0.05 to 0.001) in buffaloes with SCE from 4 weeks post-calving onwards than without SCE group. The calcium concentration was lower in buffaloes with SCE at weeks 5 (P < 0.001) and 6 (P < 0.05) postpartum, whereas the concentration of magnesium and phosphorus was uniform between the two groups. No significant (P > 0.05) difference in onset of ovarian cyclicity between the 2 groups was observed, whereas buffaloes with SCE had longer (P = 0.001) median days open (141 days) than their counterpart (117 days). The first service conception rate, cumulative pregnancy rate, and pregnancy rate at 150 days postpartum were lower (P < 0.05) in buffaloes with SCE than without SCE group. In summary, higher BHBA and lower serum concentrations of glucose, albumin, urea, and calcium control onset of subclinical endometritis which in turn has negative impact on fertility of buffaloes.

Isolation and characterization of two lytic bacteriophages against Staphylococcus aureus from India: newer therapeutic agents against Bovine mastitis.

Bovine mastitis causes severe economic losses to dairy farmers. Staphylococcus aureus, is one of the most important pathogen implicated in etiology of clinical and subclinical mastitis in bovines. In view of increasing antimicrobial resistance alternatives to antibiotic therapy are much needed. The present decade has witnessed a renewed interest in phage based therapeutics and diagnostics. The present study, describes isolation and characterization of two lytic phages SAJK-IND and MSP against Staphylococcus aureus having a potential to be used in therapy against mastitis. SAJK-IND and MSP phages belonged to Myoviridae and Podoviridae families, respectively. TEM imaging of the two phages revealed an iscosahedral head. MSP phage has a short non contractile tail. SAJK-IND and MSP have a burst size of 44 ± 3 and 25 ± 5 PFU/ infected cell, respectively. SAJK-IND and MSP phages revealed Ì´ 12 and Ì´16 proteins, respectively on SDS-PAGE analysis. The lytic activity of the phages was specific for Staphylococcus aureus. SAJK-IND revealed 100% lytic activity against several strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from mastitis milk samples whereas, MSP had only 40% lytic activity. SAJK-IND phage genome was sequenced, assembled and deposited in Genbank under accession no MG010123.