The investigation of antibacterial properties of peptides and protein hydrolysates derived from serum of Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator).

It is well known that the Asian water monitors or Varanus salvator are both scavengers and predators. They can live and survive in the place that exposed to harmful microorganisms. Most people believe that they have some protected mechanisms to confront those infections. The aim of this study is to determine the antibacterial activities of crude peptides and protein hydrolysates extracted from serum of the Varanus salvator. Ten types of bacteria were cultured with crude peptides and protein hydrolysates which were isolated from 21 Varanus salvator's serum. The crude peptides showed some interested inhibition percentages against Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC13048 = 25.6%, Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC19606 = 33.4%, Burkholderia cepacia ATCC25416 = 35.3% and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853 = 25.8%, whereas the protein hydrolysates had some inhibition potential on Burkholderia cepacia ATCC25416 = 24.3%. For the rest results of other tests were below 20% of inhibition. In addition, the evidences show that crude peptides have better antibacterial performances significantly than protein hydrolysates on most tested bacteria. Furthermore, antimicrobial peptides prediction shows about 10 percent hit (41/432 sequences). The interpretation shows that the best hit sequence is highly hydrophobic. It may destroy outer membrane of Gram-negative hence prevents the invasion of those bacteria. Altogether, bioinformatics and experiments show similar trends of antimicrobial peptide efficacy from Varanus salvator. Further studies need to be conducted on peptide purification and antimicrobial peptide candidate should be identified.

The peripheral blood mononuclear cells preparation and the hematology of Varanus salvator.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the proper anticoagulants coated in blood-collecting tube for the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolation and to evaluate the proper culture temperature for the Varanus salvator's PBMCs, in addition, the hematological characteristics also reported. The heparin treated blood (n = 10) and EDTA treated blood (n = 10) from Varanus salvator were obtained for PBMCs evaluation. The PBMCs obtained from the heparin treated blood was significantly higher than that of EDTA treated blood during the culture period (P < 0.05) indicated heparin would be more appropriated anticoagulant for blood collection. The PBMCs cultured under 37°C and 27°C were not significantly difference on first three days but 37°C showed significantly higher effect in the following days (P < 0.05) indicated both temperatures can be used which 37°C should be an optimal for PBMCs preparation. The peripheral blood cells of Varanus salvator (n = 49) were analyzed for hematological profiles and characteristics which the number of erythrocytes 1.19 ± 0.04 x 1012/L (1.17-1.35 x 1012/L) and WBC 2.41 ± 0.13 x 109/L (2.29-2.81 x 109/L) with absolute differential count of heterophils 0.92 ± 0.02 x 109/L (0.87-0.95 x 109/L), lymphocytes 1.17 ± 0.01 x 109/L (1.15-1.23 x 109/L), azurophils 0.40 ± 0.01 x 109/L (0.37-0.42 x 109/L), basophils 0.000 ± 0.001 x 109/L (0.004-0.011 x 109/L) and monocytes 0.027 ± 0.002 x 109/L (0.028-0.039 x 109/L). These results would play an important role on the cell immunological studies of the Varanus salvator in the future.

Comparative proteomic study of dog and human saliva.

Saliva contains many proteins that have an important role in biological process of the oral cavity and is closely associated with many diseases. Although the dog is a common companion animal, the composition of salivary proteome and its relationship with that of human are unclear. In this study, shotgun proteomics was used to compare the salivary proteomes of 7 Thai village dogs and 7 human subjects. Salivary proteomes revealed 2,532 differentially expressed proteins in dogs and humans, representing various functions including cellular component organization or biogenesis, cellular process, localization, biological regulation, response to stimulus, developmental process, multicellular organismal process, metabolic process, immune system process, apoptosis and biological adhesion. The oral proteomes of dogs and humans were appreciably different. Proteins related to apoptosis processes and biological adhesion were predominated in dog saliva. Drug-target network predictions by STITCH Version 5.0 showed that dog salivary proteins were found to have potential roles in tumorigenesis, anti-inflammation and antimicrobial processes. In addition, proteins related to regeneration and healing processes such as fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor were also up-regulated in dogs. These findings provide new information on dog saliva composition and will be beneficial for the study of dog saliva in diseased and health conditions in the future.

The effects of a single injection of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate on the lymphocyte functions of dairy cows at two weeks post partum.

Dexamethasone is a potent therapeutic for treatment of the fatty liver syndrome or primary ketosis in post partum dairy cows. Reservations exist, however, among practitioners with respect to the risk of immunosuppression induced by corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single injection of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate on distinct immune functions of postpartum dairy cows because only scarce information is available on the effects of corticosteroid preparations when administered at a dosage and frequency for treatment of the fatty liver syndrome or primary ketosis. Sixteen Swedish red-pied dairy cows, between days 9 and 15 post partum, were allotted to either a control group (n = 8) or a treatment group (n = 8). The cows in the treatment group received a single intramuscular injection of a dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate suspension at a dosage of 0.02 mg/kg i.m. at the start of the experiment. White blood cell counts and selected lymphocyte functions (lymphocyte proliferation, expression of lymphocyte markers and the b2 and a4 chain of adhesion molecules belonging to the integrin family) and some parameters of the energy metabolism (glucose, insulin) were determined before the administration of corticosteroids (day 0) and subsequently at days 2, 4, 7 and 9 of the experiment. Changes in glucose and insulin were within the target range for treatment of the fatty liver syndrome or primary ketosis. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in the number of circulating white blood cells were observed in treated cows on the second day following treatment which was exclusively caused by an increase in the number of circulating neutrophils. Lymphocyte blastogenesis in response to ConA and the percentages of lymphocytes positive for CD2, CD4, CD8, CD49d and CD18 as well as the intensity of CD49d expression did not differ between the treatment and control groups. There was, however, a significant reduction (P < 0.01) in the intensity of CD18 expression on lymphocytes in the treated animals on the fourth day after treatment. In conclusion, a single administration of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate in a dosage of 0.02 mg/kg i.m. at two weeks post partum in healthy cows had a significant but highly transient effect on CD18 expression on lymphocytes and the number of peripheral blood neutrophils, but did not affect lymphocyte blastogenesis or lymphocyte subpopulation patterns in peripheral blood.