In ovo supplementation of poultry embryos was first reported several decades ago, but it is only recently that concerted research has been directed at developing the technology for this process to be routinely used by the poultry industry. Although the technology of in ovo feeding was patented more than 10 years ago, it has not been widely adopted by the poultry industry. This review examines the early development of the enteric system of the poultry embryo; defines and distinguishes between in ovo feeding and in ovo nutrient administration; highlights the importance of early feeding of the chick; and discusses the development of in ovo feeding technology and its effects on hatchability, growth, gut health and immune response of chicks. The range of possible nutrients that can be administered is also explored. The limitations associated with embryo development and nutrient metabolism are highlighted, leading to the prediction of the future role of in ovo feeding in the poultry industry.

1. The effects of injecting threonine in ovo on early growth, some immunological responses and the activity of digestive enzymes of broiler chicks were investigated. Fertile eggs were distributed into 6 groups, each of 60. These were: untreated control, sham control, 10, 20, 30 or 40 mg threonine. Threonine was dissolved in 0.5 ml sterile saline and inoculated into the yolk sac of the 14-d-old embryo through the narrow end of the egg. 2. The ratio of chick to egg weight was 1.6% higher in the group given 30 mg threonine and at 28 d of age chicks receiving threonine were 29 to 79 g heavier than untreated controls. 3. Food conversion ratio until 7 d after hatching was improved in those chicks receiving 10, 20 or 40 mg threonine but there was no significant effect on the activities of amylase, pepsin or trypsin. 4. The humoral response to sheep red blood cells was significantly greater in those groups receiving 10, 20 or 30 mg threonine supplementation than in untreated controls. 5. The response to phytohaemagglutinin-P, a measure of the cell-mediated immune response, was not affected, however. 6. It is concluded that injections of 20 to 30 mg threonine into yolk sac can improve post-hatching growth and humoral responses of broiler chicks.

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Selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols to corresponding aldehydes catalyzed by a sub-stoichiometric amount of novel γ-MnO2/GO nanocomposites giving over 90% yield.

Graphical AbstractThe increase in oxygen functionalities on GO with increasing use of oxidizing agent, results in (i) amplification of redox pseudocapacitive current and (ii) improves metal ion adsorption. Abstract 1Graphene oxide (GO) samples were prepared at room temperature using modified Hummer's 2 method. The quantitative variation of oxidizing agent for the oxidation of graphene sheets 3 resulted in increasing the oxygen functionalities on GO samples. The Qualitative analysis of 4 functional groups and surface charge variation was studied using Fourier transform infra-red 5 (FTIR) spectroscopy and zeta potential respectively. Different oxidation degrees of GO was 6 investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). 7The electrochemical charge storage property of the GO samples were studied using two 8 electrode supercapacitor cell. The fabricated supercapacitor demonstrates linear enhancement in 9 the specific charge storage with an increase in the oxidation of GO samples. Maximum charge 10 storage of 71 F/g has been obtained with highly oxidized GO sample at room temperature. The 11 adsorption of metal ions from the aqueous solution has also been studied with the variation in the 12 degree of functionalization of the GO samples. It was observed that increasing oxygen 13 functionalities from GO-1 to GO-5 amplifies the uptake of metal ions [Cd(II) and Cu(II)]. The 14 experimental data fits well in Langmuir adsorption model, indicating monolayer adsorption of 15 metal ion on GO samples.16

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Paratuberculosis or Johne's disease is a chronic gastric disease of ruminants. For this disease there is no effective treatment or preventive measure available. 16.8 kDa protein is an immunogenic protein of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis and can be an ideal candidate for developing a DNA vaccine construct. In present study a bicistronic DNA vaccine construct pIR16.8/IFN was developed using eukaryotic vector pIRES 6.1. Two genes MPT (expressing 16.8 kDa protein) and murine IFNgamma were cloned, expressed and immunoreactivity was studied in murine model. Immunoreactivity was also compared with monocistronic construct pIR16.8 expressing 16.8 kDa protein. Both pIR16.8 and pIR16.8/IFN showed eukaryotic expression of respective proteins in BHK21 cells. The expressed proteins also showed immunoreactivity when reacted with hyperimmune sera raised against recombinant 16.8 kDa protein in western blot assay and immunofluorence assay. Both constructs were used as DNA vaccine in murine model and immunogenecity was studied by DTH, lymphocyte proliferation assay and NO determination. DTH reaction was significantly high in pIR16.8/IFN than pIR16.8 group, similarly lymphocyte proliferation and NO release was higher in pIR16.8/IFN group than pIR16.8 group. This indicated T cell epitopic nature of 16.8 kDa protein. The study also showed that co-expression of IFNgamma with mycobacterial gene can enhance immunogenecity of DNA vaccine and can be used as immunoadjuvant.