In this preclinical two-dose mucosal immunization study, using a combination of S1 spike and nucleocapsid proteins with cationic (N3)/or anionic (L3) lipids were investigated using an intranasal delivery route. The study showed that nasal administration of low amounts of antigens/adjuvants induced a primary and secondary immune response in systemic IgG, mIL-5, and IFN-gamma secreting T lymphocytes, as well as humoral IgA in nasal and intestinal mucosal compartments. It is believed that recipients will benefit from receiving a combination of viral antigens in promoting a border immune response against present and evolving contagious viruses. Lipid adjuvants demonstrated an enhanced response in the vaccine effect. This was seen in the significant immunogenicity effect when using the cationic lipid N3. Unlike L3, which showed a recognizable effect when administrated at a slightly higher concentration. Moreover, the findings of the study proved the efficiency of an intranasally mucosal immunization strategy, which can be less painful and more effective in enhancing the respiratory tract immunity against respiratory infectious diseases.
It is generally accepted that gastrointestinal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) Á/ acetic, propionic and butyric acid Á/ are mostly derived from carbohydrates, while iso-butyric and iso-valeric acids are from protein sources. We have investigated the faecal SCFAs and the correlation between the branched-chain fatty acids iso-butyric and iso-valeric in humans, rats, horses and pigs. The subjects were of different ages, fed on different diets and housed in different environments. High differences in the total output of SCFAs were observed within and between species. Despite these differences, a remarkable correlation between the iso-butyric and the iso-valeric acids was found. The fact that the correlation is strong irrespective of species, age, diet and living conditions indicates a common source actually reaching the hindgut. We hypothesize that this source is intestinal sloughed cells.
Intestinal microbial functions reflect cross-talk between a host and its flora, and external factors may influence these functions. The aim of this investigation was to follow the development of six biochemical microbial-related functions of piglets, raised outdoors (OPs) or indoors (IPs), from birth to slaughter age. The following parameters (microflora-associated characteristic; MAC) were consecutively measured at five different ages: production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol and of bilirubin to urobilinogens, inactivation of trypsin, degradation of beta-aspartylglycine and of mucin. Additionally, four parameters (production of SCFA. conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol, inactivation of trypsin, degradation of beta-aspartylglycine) were investigated in faecal samples from germ-free minipigs. The differences in MAC patterns between OPs and IPs were most pronounced at 20 days of age. Differences were found in the total amount of SCFAs, proportions of the acetic, propionic and butyric acids, conversion of bilirubin to urobilinogens, degradation of faecal tryptic activity and degradation of mucin. The values found in the minipigs were within the range of a germ-free animal characteristic (GAC) pattern. Our results show that environmental factors influence the development of some intestinal microbial functions in pigs.
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