Hepatitis E infection, caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), is a common cause of acute hepatitis in developing countries with poor sanitation and hygiene. The virus is classified into four genotypes (1-4) with one serotype. Genotypes 1 and 2 exclusively infect humans, whereas genotypes 3 and 4 also infect other animals, particularly pigs. In endemic areas, large outbreaks of acute hepatitis caused by viruses of genotype 1 or 2 frequently occur due to fecal-oral transmission, usually through contamination of drinking water. With a high attack rate in young adults (aged 15-45 years), the disease is particularly severe among pregnant women (20-30% mortality). HEV appears to be a zoonotic disease, with transmission from pigs, wild boars, and deer, or foodborne. Chronic infections are rare, except in immunosuppressed persons, such as organ transplant recipients. A subunit vaccine has been shown to be effective in preventing the clinical disease, but is not yet commercially available. Our understanding of HEV has undergone major changes in recent years and in this article we review the currently available information with regard to the molecular biology, pathobiology, and epidemiology of HEV infection. We also review the current therapeutic interventions and strategies being used to control HEV infection, with emphasis on possible approaches that could be used to develop an effective vaccine against HEV.

The technological advances in the processing and preservation of quail eggs and meat, evaluation of their nutritive values and development of further processed products therefrom are reviewed. The review of egg and egg products covers the physical and chemical composition of eggs, the influence of age and season on egg quality, storage stability of shell eggs and further processed products including pickled and brined eggs. Aspects concerning optimal slaughter age of quails and their processing, yields of carcass and meat, abdominal fat, nutrient composition, preservation and further processed meat products like pickled, tandoori (roasted), fried and smoked quail are also highlighted in this paper.

This study was conducted to know the impact of cryopreservation on caprine fetal adnexa derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the basic stem cell characteristics. Gravid caprine uteri (2-3 months) were collected from local abattoir to derive (amniotic fluid [cAF], amniotic sac [cAS], Wharton's jelly [cWJ], and cord blood [cCB]) MSCs and expanded in vitro. Cells were cryopreserved at 3rd passage (P3) using 10% DMSO. Post-thaw viability and cellular properties were assessed. Cells were expanded to determine growth kinetics, tri-lineage differentiation, localization, and molecular expression of MSCs and pluripotency markers; thereafter, these cells were transplanted in the full-thickness (2 × 2cm ) rat skin wound to determine their wound healing potential. The post-thaw (pt) growth kinetics study suggested that cWJ MSCs expanded more rapidly with faster population doubling time (PDT) than that of other fetal adnexa MSCs. The relative mRNA expression of surface antigens (CD73, CD90, and CD 105) and pluripotency markers (Oct4, KLF, and cMyc) was higher in cWJ MSCs in comparison to cAS, cAF, and cCB MSCs post-thaw. The percent wound contraction on 7th day was more than 50% for all the MSC-treated groups (pre and post-thaw), against 39.55% in the control group. On day 28th, 99% and more wound contraction was observed in cAF, cAF-pt, cAS-pt, cWJ, cWJ-pt, and cCB, MSCs with better scores for epithelization, neovascularization, and collagen characteristics at a non-significant level. It is concluded that these MSCs could be successfully cryopreserved without altering their stemness and wound healing properties. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 2186-2200, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The present study was conducted with an objective of isolation, in vitro expansion, growth kinetics, molecular characterization and in vitro differentiation of fetal adnexa derived caprine mesenchymal stem cells. Mid-gestation gravid caprine uteri (2–3 months) were collected from abattoir to derive mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from fetal adnexa {amniotic fluid (cAF), amniotic sac (cAS), Wharton’s jelly (cWJ) and cord blood (cCB)} and expanded in vitro. These cultured MSCs were used at the 3rd passage (P3) to study growth kinetics, localization as well as molecular expression of specific surface antigens, pluripotency markers and mesenchymal tri-lineage differentiation. In comparison to cAF and cAS MSCs, cWJ and cCB MSCs showed significantly (P<0.05) higher clonogenic potency, faster growth rate and low population doubling (PDT) time. All the four types of MSCs were positive for alkaline phosphatase (AP) and differentiated into chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic lineages. These stem cells expressed MSC surface antigens (CD73, CD90 and CD105) and pluripotency markers (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, KLF, cMyc, FoxD3) but did not express CD34, a hematopoietic stem cell marker (HSC) as confirmed by RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometric analysis. The relative mRNA expression of MSC surface antigens (CD73, CD90 and CD105) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in cWJ MSCs compared to the other cell lines. The mRNA expression of Oct4 was significantly (P<0.05) higher in cWJ, whereas mRNA expression of KLF and cMyc was significantly (P<0.05) higher in cWJ and cAF than that of cAS and cCB. The comparative assessment revealed that cWJ MSCs outperformed MSCs from other sources of fetal adnexa in terms of growth kinetics, relative mRNA expression of surface antigens, pluripotency markers and tri-lineage differentiation potential, hence, these MSCs could be used as a preferred source for regenerative medicine.

This study was conducted to characterize canine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs); in vivo tracking in mice, and therapeutic evaluation in canine clinical paraplegia cases. Canine BMSCs were isolated, cultured, and characterized in vitro as per International Society for Cellular Therapy criteria, and successfully differentiated to chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic lineages. To demonstrate the homing property, the pGL4.51 vector that contained luciferase reporter gene was used to transfect BMSCs. Successfully transfected cells were injected around the skin wound in mice and in vivo imaging was done at 6, 12 and 24 hr post MSCs delivery. In vivo imaging revealed that transfected BMSCs migrated and concentrated predominantly toward the center of the wound. BMSCs were further evaluated for allogenic therapeutic potential in 44 clinical cases of spinal cord injuries (SCI) and compared with conventional therapy (control). Therapeutic potential as evaluated by different body reflexes and recovery score depicted significantly better results in stem cell-treated group compared to control group. In conclusion, allogenic canine BMSCs can serve as potent therapeutic candidate in cell-based therapies, especially for diseases like SCI, where the conventional medication is not so promising.

Although spent hens are economically important, they are considered a by-product of the egg industry and efforts are therefore needed if better quality meat and higher returns are to be achieved. This review has compiled information on various aspects of spent hen processing and utilization. Meat and fat yields depend on age and weight of the birds with heavy hens producing better yields and better quality products than light weight birds. Except for muscle tissue removed almost intact by filleting machines, hand deboned meat is superior to mechanically deboned meat. Toughness of spent hen meat is no obstacle to the production of a variety of comminuted products. Such by-products as skin, gizzard, heart, ova yolk and fat can be utilized in emulsion-based chicken and other meat products. The use of phosphates to produce better quality spent hen meat products has been demonstrated. Improved deboning techniques and modern methods of meat processing are capable of enhancing the quality and value of meat from spent hens leading to greater demand and better financial returns.

Contains 0.25% Phenol., 0.85% sodium chloride, buffered to maintain pH 8.2 to 8.5, (from Vineland Poultry Laboratory, Vineland, N. J. ).

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