Emergence of resistance genes in fecal samples of antibiotic-treated Philippine broilers emphasizes the need to review local farming practices.

The poultry industry is a major contributor to the Philippine economy. Given the rising concerns in antibiotic resistance and food security, farmers need to maximize profit and output while ensuring safe and ecologically sustainable farming practices. This study surveyed antibiotic use in 12 commercial poultry farms in the Philippines. All farms reported the use of medically important antibiotics either for prophylaxis (91.67%), metaphylaxis (100%), and growth promotion (50%). Considering the widespread use of medically important antibiotics, we then investigated the potential contribution of local antibiotic treatment protocols to the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes in the fecal samples of broiler chickens under a controlled experimental setup. Significantly, we observed the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes ( ermB) in fecal samples of antibiotic-treated broilers after 7 days and 21 days in antibiotic-free broilers raised in the same farming environment. These data were corroborated by antibiotic resistance gene profiles of fecal samples from commercial poultry farms. Antibiotic resistance genes ( tetA, tetB, tetU, tetW, qnrB, qnrS) were prevalent in the fecal samples of antibiotic-treated broilers treated with tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics. Therefore, our study provides concrete evidence for the strong correlation between the use of medically important antibiotics in poultry farming and the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes. Antimicrobial resistance is a major contributor to failures in infectious disease treatment strategies in humans and animals. Therefore, the cost-benefit ratio of poorly regulated antibiotic treatment protocols in poultry farming could have a long-term detrimental impact on our economy and public health. Our study suggests the need to review our current policies and practices in using medically important antibiotics in the Philippine poultry industry.

Subcutaneous injection of an immunologically tolerated protein up to 5 days before skin injuries improves wound healing.

Oral tolerance blocks the development of specific immune responses to proteins ingested by the oral route. One of the first registries of oral tolerance showed that guinea pigs fed corn became refractory to hypersensitivity to corn proteins. Mice fed with chow containing corn are tolerant to zein, and parenteral injection of zein plus adjuvant blocks immunization to unrelated proteins injected concomitantly and reduces unspecific inflammation. Extensive and prolonged inflammatory infiltrate in the wound bed is one of the causes of pathological wound healing. Previous research shows that intraperitoneal injection of zein concomitant with skin injuries reduces the inflammatory infiltrate in the wound bed and improves wound healing. Herein, we tested if one subcutaneous injection of zein before skin injury improves wound healing. We also investigated how long the effects triggered by zein could improve skin wound healing. Mice fed zein received two excisional wounds on the interscapular skin under anesthesia. Zein plus Al(OH)3 was injected at the tail base at 10 min, or 3, 5, or 7 days before skin injuries. Wound healing was analyzed at days 7 and 40 after injury. Our results showed that a zein injection up to 5 days before skin injury reduced the inflammatory infiltrate, increased the number of T-cells in the wound bed, and improved the pattern of collagen deposition in the neodermis. These findings could promote the development of new strategies for the treatment and prevention of pathological healing using proteins normally found in the common diet.

Subcutaneous injection of an immunologically tolerated protein up to 5 days before skin injuries improves wound healing

Oral tolerance blocks the development of specific immune responses to proteins ingested by the oral route. One of the first registries of oral tolerance showed that guinea pigs fed corn became refractory to hypersensitivity to corn proteins. Mice fed with chow containing corn are tolerant to zein, and parenteral injection of zein plus adjuvant blocks immunization to unrelated proteins injected concomitantly and reduces unspecific inflammation. Extensive and prolonged inflammatory infiltrate in the wound bed is one of the causes of pathological wound healing. Previous research shows that intraperitoneal injection of zein concomitant with skin injuries reduces the inflammatory infiltrate in the wound bed and improves wound healing. Herein, we tested if one subcutaneous injection of zein before skin injury improves wound healing. We also investigated how long the effects triggered by zein could improve skin wound healing. Mice fed zein received two excisional wounds on the interscapular skin under anesthesia. Zein plus Al(OH)3 was injected at the tail base at 10 min, or 3, 5, or 7 days before skin injuries. Wound healing was analyzed at days 7 and 40 after injury. Our results showed that a zein injection up to 5 days before skin injury reduced the inflammatory infiltrate, increased the number of T-cells in the wound bed, and improved the pattern of collagen deposition in the neodermis. These findings could promote the development of new strategies for the treatment and prevention of pathological healing using proteins normally found in the common diet.

Emergence of resistance genes in fecal samples of antibiotic-treated Philippine broilers emphasizes the need to review local farming practices

@#The poultry industry is a major contributor to the Philippine economy. Given the rising concerns in antibiotic resistance and food security, farmers need to maximize profit and output while ensuring safe and ecologically sustainable farming practices. This study surveyed antibiotic use in 12 commercial poultry farms in the Philippines. All farms reported the use of medically important antibiotics either for prophylaxis (91.67%), metaphylaxis (100%), and growth promotion (50%). Considering the widespread use of medically important antibiotics, we then investigated the potential contribution of local antibiotic treatment protocols to the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes in the fecal samples of broiler chickens under a controlled experimental setup. Significantly, we observed the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ermB) in fecal samples of antibiotic-treated broilers after 7 days and 21 days in antibiotic-free broilers raised in the same farming environment. These data were corroborated by antibiotic resistance gene profiles of fecal samples from commercial poultry farms. Antibiotic resistance genes (tetA, tetB, tetU, tetW, qnrB, qnrS) were prevalent in the fecal samples of antibiotic-treated broilers treated with tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics. Therefore, our study provides concrete evidence for the strong correlation between the use of medically important antibiotics in poultry farming and the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes. Antimicrobial resistance is a major contributor to failures in infectious disease treatment strategies in humans and animals. Therefore, the cost-benefit ratio of poorly regulated antibiotic treatment protocols in poultry farming could have a long-term detrimental impact on our economy and public health. Our study suggests the need to review our current policies and practices in using medically important antibiotics in the Philippine poultry industry.

Microplastic at nesting grounds used by the northern Gulf of Mexico loggerhead recovery unit.

Microplastics can impact key habitats used by endangered species, such as marine turtles. They impact the environment by transporting toxicants and altering sediment properties affecting temperature and sediment permeability. Our study determined the exposure of the ten most important nesting sites for the Northern Gulf of Mexico Loggerhead Recovery Unit to microplastic. Sand samples were obtained at each nesting site during the 2017 nesting season and analyzed for abundance and characteristics of microplastic. Microplastic was found at all sites, with an average abundance of 61.08 ±â€¯34.61 pieces/m2, and 59.9% located at the dunes, where turtles primarily nest. A gradual decrease in microplastics abundance was observed from the most western nesting ground to the east. The results from this study indicate that microplastic accumulation on nesting sites for the Northern Gulf of Mexico may be of great concern, and could negatively affect the incubating environment for marine turtles.

A gene signature of bone metastatic colonization sensitizes for tumor-induced osteolysis and predicts survival in lung cancer.

Bone metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma (AC) is a frequent complication of advanced disease. The purpose of this study was to identify key mediators conferring robust prometastatic activity with clinical significance. We isolated highly metastatic subpopulations (HMS) using a previously described in vivo model of lung AC bone metastasis. We performed transcriptomic profiling of HMS and stringent bioinformatics filtering. Functional validation was assessed by overexpression and lentiviral silencing of single, double and triple combination in vivo and in vitro. We identified HDAC4, PITX1 and ROBO1 that decreased bone metastatic ability after their simultaneous abrogation. These effects were solely linked to defects in osseous colonization. The molecular mechanisms related to bone colonization were mediated by non-cell autonomous effects that include the following: (1) a marked decrease in osteoclastogenic activity in vitro and in vivo, an effect associated with reduced pro-osteoclastogenic cytokines IL-11 and PTHrP expression levels, as well as decreased in vitro expression of stromal rankl in conditions mimicking tumor-stromal interactions; (2) an abrogated response to TGF-ß signaling by decreased phosphorylation and levels of Smad2/3 in tumor cells and (3) an impaired metalloproteolytic activity in vitro. Interestingly, coexpression of HDAC4 and PITX1 conferred high prometastatic activity in vivo. Further, levels of both genes correlated with patients at higher risk of metastasis in a clinical lung AC data set and with a poorer clinical outcome. These findings provide functional and clinical evidence that this metastatic subset is an important determinant of osseous colonization. These data suggest novel therapeutic targets to effectively block lung AC bone metastasis.