Synergistic Ability of Chitosan and Trichoderma harzianum to Control the Growth and Discolouration of Common Sapstain Fungi of Pinus radiata

An environmentally compatible method for controlling sapstain fungi in wood was evaluated, using a combination of chitosan and an albino strain of Trichoderma harzianum, a biological control agent (BCA). The growth and penetration into the wood of the sapstain fungi Ophiostoma piceae, Leptographium procerum, and Sphaeropsis sapinea were assessed in radiata pine wafers treated with chitosan and BCA, both alone and in combination. Several mycological and microscopic techniques were used, including a gfp (green fluorescent protein) transformed strain of O. piceae for assessing the depth of penetration in the wood samples. The synergy between the chitosan and BCA was evident, and for two tested fungi, only the combination of chitosan and BCA afforded protection. The synnemata (recognized by erect conidiogenous cells bearing conidia) was observed on the surface of the wafers inoculated with L. procerum and O. piceae, but the hyphae were unable to penetrate and melanise. The results suggest that the limited ability of chitosan to penetrate deeply into the wood was compensated by the fast growth of T. harzianum in the inner wood.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN BISPENOL-A (BPA) TERHADAP JUMLAH SPERMATOZOA PADA Rattus norvegicus GALUR WISTAR ALBINO

Bispenol-a (BPA) has an esterogen hormone activity while it enters the body, it can become endocrine disruptor. The objetive of this study was to purpose to prove that bispenol a can decrease spermatozoa cell count in male wistar albino strain rats (rattus novergicus).This research is an experimental design with post-only control group by using 20 male wistar albino strain rats (rattus Novergicus). Those sample aged 2-3 months which divided into four groups for 5 rats each. Control group (K) without bispenol-a adduction. The first (P1), second (P2), and third (P3) group treatment was given with BPA in 51 days for 0.45, 0.9 and 1.8 mg/body weight(kgs)/day for a 51-day. After 51-day treatment.This research showed that mean value of testosterone hormone for control group was 7.78 ng/lts. P1 group, P2 and P3 groups showed 6.19, 5.23 and 4.02 ng/lt.the count of spermatozoa has mean value for control group was 39,1 while first group (P1) was 30.2 . In second (P2) and third (P3) treatment group were 21,1 and 19.7. Data analysis showed mice spermatozoa cell count had p <0.05, which means that there is significance differentiation between control and treatment groups.It can be concluded that there is an effect of bisphenol a adduction on male Rattus novergicus wistar albino strain spermatozoa cell count.

Increased virulence of albino mutant of Fonsecaea monophora in Galleria mellonella

Fonsecaea monophora has been the predominant pathogen of chromoblastomycosis in Southern China, but its pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. New models are needed to study this infection. In the current study, we examined the role of melanin on the pathogenicity of F. monophora in Galleria mellonella model using melanin and albino strain. Interestingly, the albino mutant strain displayed higher pathogenicity compared to the melanin stain and restoration of melanin of albino mutant could reverse the pathogenicity. Histopathology showed that inflammatory nodules were bigger than that infected with albino cells, which suggested that melanized cells could trigger a robust cellular immune response of G. mellonella than albino cells. The activated immune response in G. mellonella induced by melanized cells might explain the decreased virulence of melanized cells in larvae model. While further study was needed to gain full insights into the molecular immunological mechanism in G. mellonella activated by melanin.

Increase in neutrophil count after repeated exposure of Plasmodium berghei-infected mice to artemisinin

<p>Background <br />Leukocytes play an important role in the elimination of malaria infection. The leukocyte profile upon elimination of the malaria parasites that have been exposed to antimalarials and are subsequently capable of faster growth has not been researched. The aim of this research was to evaluate the role of mouse leukocytes in the elimination of parasites as shown by the leukocyte profile.</p><p>Methods <br />An experimental research with post test only control group design was conducted involving 24 male mice of the Swiss Albino strain weighing 20 g -30 g, and 2.5 months old. They were randomized into four groups: two control groups (K1, KP) and two treatment groups (P1, P4). Artemisinin at a dose of 0.04 mg/g body weight was given to the mice for 3 days, starting 2 days after infection. The leukocyte profile was observed on the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 10th day after infection. The results were analyzed by two-way Anova.</p><p>Results <br />As shown in treatment control group KP and treatment group P4, P. berghei that had been passaged in the mice and were still viable after repeated exposure to artemisinin, may cause changes in leukocyte profile. On the 10th day of infection, the neutrophil percentage in group P1 showed a significantly different decrease when compared with the other groups (K1, KP and P4) (p&lt;0.05).</p><p>Conclusion <br />Repeated exposure to artemisinin of mice infected with P. berghei can cause changes in neutrophil profile in mice.</p>

The viability of Trichinella spiralis larvae in frozen pork and wild boar meat revealed by the experimental infection of laboratory mice

Summary The aim of the research was to verify the viability of Trichinella spiralis larvae in pig and wild boar meat frozen at -18 °C from 268 days to 1021 days. There were three groups of laboratory inbred Balb/C mice and Bagg/ Albino/ strain C, each group received one sample consisting of 20 g meat infected with T. spiralis larvae, according to the protocol, and an uninfected control group. The experiments were ended after 80 days, by euthanizing the mice and taking samples of muscle tissue, which were processed for histopathology. The results revealed the presence of Trichinella cysts in all experimental groups, confirming the extraordinary durability and viability of Trichinella larvae in meat frozen at -18 °C for many months. It was confirmed that the larvae detected in muscle tissues of mice were Trichinella spiralis.

Cadmium Increases the Sensitivity of Adolescent Female Mice to Nicotine-Related Behavioral Deficits

This study investigates spatial and nonspatial working memory, anxiety related behavior, and motor activities in cadmium and/or nicotine exposed female adolescent mice. P28 female adolescent mice (albino strain) were divided into four groups of five (n=5) mice each. A set of mice (Nic) received subcutaneous nicotine (2.0 mg/kg) while a separate set (Cd) was treated with 2.0 mg/kg cadmium (subcutaneous). For the combined treatments of cadmium and nicotine, we administered 2.0 mg/kg Nicotine and 2.0 mg/kg of Cd. Subsequently, a separate group of animals (n=5; control) received normal saline. The total duration of treatment for all groups was 28 days (P28–P56). At P56, the treatment was discontinued, after which the animals were examined in behavioural tests. Nicotine and cadmium increased the metabolism and food intake in the female adolescent mice. This also corresponded to an increase in weight when compared with the control. However, a combined nicotine-cadmium treatment induced a decline in weight of the animals versus the control. Also, nicotine administration increased the motor function, while cadmium and nicotine-cadmium treatment caused a decline in motor activity. Both nicotine and cadmium induced a reduction in memory index; however, nicotine-cadmium treatment induced the most significant decrease in nonspatial working memory.

Effect of Citrullus colocynthis on some physiological aspects of female reproductive system in mice as a model for mammals

The study was design to investigate the effect of oral administration of Citrullus colocynthis (CC) on some physiological and histological characters of female reproductive organs in mature mice of Swiss albino strain as a model for mammals. The animals were divided into three groups each contains 8 animals. Group one was treated with 6 mg/ Kg body weight BW/ day of alcoholic extract of CC, group two was treated with 9.6 mg/ Kg BW/day of alcoholic extract of CC and group three served as control throughout eight weeks period. The results of the study showed no significant (P>0.05) difference in the ovarian and uterine weight among groups. Significant (P<0.05) differences were shown in ovarian activity in control and group one compared to group two. The number of corpura lutea was highly significant (P<0.01) improved in group one than that of control group. The number of pregnant females was 50% in group one and control group. However the females treated with 6 mg/ Kg BW/ day of alcoholic extract of CC were gave a significant (P<0.01) results in the number of litters when compared with control group. It is concluded from the present research that treating with limiting dose of CC may accelerated the action of ovarian activity and resulted in improvement in the number of litters.