Gliadin compositions of 95 spring spelts, 5 winter spelts, and Neepawa Hard Red Spring (HRS) wheat were evaluated by acid−polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (A-PAGE). Five spring spelts grown in three environments over 2 years were compared to the HRS cultivar Katepwa using A-PAGE and sodium dodecyl sulfate−polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). On the basis of the scoring of 13 bands, the spring and winter spelts diverged widely from Neepawa HRS wheat. None of the spring spelts evaluated had a gliadin protein profile identical to that of commercially available winter spelt. Spring and winter spelts were differentiated from Katepwa HRS wheat based on ω-gliadin composition, in which common wheat was characterized by the presence of a slow-moving ω-gliadin and a strong-staining fast-moving ω-gliadin. Common wheat and spring spelt accessions SK0505, SK0263, and RL5407 (black-hulled spelts) had a distinct strong band in the γ-gliadin region with MW of about 64K which was absent in winter spelts and the spring spelts SK0021 and PGR8801 (white-hulled spelts). The molecular weights of gliadin proteins were in the range of 34K−75K. Keywords: Spelt; wheat; gliadin; electrophoresis; A-PAGE; SDS-PAGE, NTSYS-PC

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Lead (Pb) is a widespread and nondegradable environmental pollutant and affects several organs through oxidative mechanisms. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant protective effect of glycine betaine (GB) against Pb-induced renal and hepatic injury. Male albino rats (n = 45) were divided into three groups: G1 untreated control, G2 Pb-acetate (50 mg/kg/day), and G3 Pb-acetate (50 mg/kg/day) plus GB (250 mg/kg/day) administered for 6 weeks. For G3, Pb-acetate was administered first and followed by GB at least 4 h after. Pb-acetate treatment (G2) resulted in a significant decrease in renal function, including elevated creatinine and urea levels by 17.4% and 23.7%, respectively, and nonsignificant changes in serum uric acid levels. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphates (ALP) activities were significantly increased with Pb treatment by 37.6%, 59.3%, and 55.1%, respectively. Lipid peroxidation level was significantly increased by 7.8 times after 6 weeks of Pb-acetate treatment. The level of reduced glutathione (GSH-R) significantly declined after Pb-acetate treatment. Pb-acetate treatment also reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) by 74.1%, 85.0%, and 40.8%, respectively. Treatment of Pb-intoxicated rats with GB resulted in a significant reduction in creatinine, urea, ALT, AST, and lipid peroxidation, as well as a significant increase in the level of GSH-R and in the activities of ALP, SOD, GST, and GSH-PX. The molecular interaction between GB and GSH-PX indicated that the activation of GSH-PX in Pb-intoxicated rats was not the result of GB binding to the catalytic site of GSH-PX. The affinity of GB to bind to the catalytic site of GSH-PX is lower than that of H2O2. Thus, GB significantly mitigates Pb-induced renal and liver injury through the activation of antioxidant enzymes and the prevention of Pb-induced oxidative damage in the kidney and liver.

The foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine is used to control the FMD in cloven-hoofed animals including calves. The most important step in vaccine preparation is the selection of a suitable adjuvant which plays a main role in the vaccine's potency. The present study is an attempt to use clinoptilolite instead of Montanide oil to enhance the efficiency of the FMD vaccine and reduce its production cost. Twelve calves were split into four groups. Three groups were vaccinated with FMD vaccine with different adjuvants i.e. 100% Montanide (ISA 206), 50% of Montanide with 1.0 μg/dose of clinoptilolite (ISA 206+CLINP), and by replacing the 100% of Montanide by 1 μg/dose of clinoptilolite (CLINP). The fourth group was unvaccinated. Results showed that calves vaccinated with (ISA 206+CLINP) FMD vaccine expressed the highest and the longest periods of immune response until 38 weeks. While groups vaccinated with (CLINP) or (ISA 206) vaccine showed only protection up to 26 and 34 weeks respectively. Also, our results showed that clinoptilolite improved organ functions resulting from the stress of vaccines. Finally, this study recommended the use of clinoptilolite with Montanide oil as a potential adjuvant in the FMD vaccine to give high stimulation of the immune response.

The effect of different concentrations of ascorbate (As) at 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mM, salicylate (Sa) at 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mM , in addition to silicate (Si) at 0, 100, 250, and 500 ppm on potato plant subjected to different water regimes; three days interval (control), four days interval (4DI) and five days interval (5DI). Photosynthetic pigments, free proline and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, and plant dry matter percentage were determined. Also, tuber yield was recorded and the percentage of tuber dry matter was determined. Water deficit resulted in significant reduction in tuber yield, plant dry matter percentage beside significant increase in free proline and MDA contents. Meanwhile, effects on photosynthetic pigments content and tuber dry matter were inconsistent. The effects of using different concentrations of ascorbate (As) under water deficit provide a superior effect of As at 0.25 mM. Data revealed that ascorbate treatment enhanced tuber yield by improved Chl (a and b) and carotenoids content, with a promoted reduction in free proline content and MDA. Salicylate (Sa) treatment under water deficit exhibited partial enhancement in photosynthetic pigments; where, Sa (1.0 mM) increased Chl a under all water regimes and Chl b at control and 4DI water regimes. While Sa (0.5 mM) improved carotenoids content at 5DI water regimes. The positive effect of salicylate on tuber yield was obvious only at 5DI water regime; as salicylate concentrations (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mM) enhanced tuber yield by 65.61, 21.8 and 33.33%. Data exhibited that these increments were concomitant with a reduction in free proline content and a slight increase in tuber dry matter. Interactive effects of Silicate (Si)/water deficit were variable with the concentration under the used water deficit regimes, where, Si (100 ppm), showed higher means of Chl (a and b) with a reduction in free proline contents, at both 4DI and 5DI. The higher tuber yield resulted only at 5DI. More pronounced effect, Si (250 ppm) exhibited increment of photosynthetic pigments, plant dry matter, tuber yield, along with slight reduction in MDA, particularly at 5DI. It could be concluded that silicate treatment alleviated water stress by improving carotenoids content, plant dry matter and reducing both free proline and MDA contents, which attributes enhancement in tuber yield under water deficit. Generally, lower concentrations of As, Sa and Si showed their benefits under higher water stress regimes.