O'MEARA, TJ, EGERTON, JR & RAADSMA, HW 1993, 'Recombinant vaccines against ovine footrot', Immunology & Cell Biology, vol. 71, no. 5, pp. 473-488.
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SummaryFor the past 20 years footrot vaccines have evolved from simple bacterins to highly specific recombinant DNA (rDNA) fimbrial vaccines. The development of these vaccines has left a trail of discoveries, challenges and solutions; these processes continue as we move closer to understanding the requirements of a footrot vaccine. The initial whole cell vaccines were unsuccessful due to the short duration of immunity and incorporation of limited serotypes. A multistrain vaccine eliminated the problem of serotype inclusion, although the duration of immunity in many cases is still inadequate. The proteases of Dichelobacter nodosus appear to be cross protective; however, little is known of their ability to protect sheep against footrot. The major protective immunogen is the bacterial fimbriae, which also forms the basis for the K‐agglutination serotyping system. K‐agglutinin titre correlates directly with resistance to challenge. The protective fimbrial epitope is conformationally dependent, suggesting little advantage in the development of synthetic peptide vaccines. To enhance the efficiency of vaccine production D. nodosus fimbrial genes were eventually cloned and successfully expressed in Ps. aeruginosa. Monovalent vaccines based on recombinant fimbriae are omnipotent, inducing high levels of agglutinins and long lasting immunity. In multivalent vaccines, on the other hand, incorporation of each additional serogroup into the vaccine results in reduced efficacy both in terms of reduced K‐agglutinin titres and reduced protection following challenge. The least effective are multivalent formulations representing all major serogroups. In addition, considerable genetic variation has been observed in the ability of sheep to respond optimally to each serogroup in a multivalent vaccine. Results show that the limitation of the sheep to mount an effe...
Post, A & Larkum, AWD 1993, 'UV-absorbing pigments, photosynthesis and UV exposure in Antarctica: comparison of terrestrial and marine algae', Aquatic Botany, vol. 45, no. 2-3, pp. 231-243.
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Since Antarctic plants experience a wide range of ultraviolet (UV) exposure, the pigment content of Antarctic algae (Palmaria decipiens (Reinsch) Ricker, Enteromorpha bulbosa (Suhr) Montagne, Prasiola crispa (Lightf.) Kütz. sp. antarctica (Kützing) Knebel) was monitored over a year. In summer the mature form of the marine rhodophyte Palmaria contains a range of UV-absorbing pigments in high concentration providing a broad absorbance with a maximum at 337 nm. Juvenile fronds develop through winter with smaller absorbance maxima at 322 nm, 309 nm and 295 nm. The terrestrial chlorophyte Prasiola crispa contains a single UV-absorbing pigment with a maximum at 325 nm. Compared with other green algae, including the marine Enteromorpha, the UV-absorbing pigment in Prasiola is present in high concentrations. Variations in the level of UV-absorbance relative to chlorophyll in Prasiola, appear to correspond with varying UV exposure. To test this, Prasiola was maintained with an enhanced ratio of UV-B to visible light to simulate the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion. After 4 weeks the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rates were reduced in the presence of enhanced UV-B light, but the ratio of UV-absorbing pigments to chlorophyll was unchanged. This suggests that even for Antarctic algae, that contain high levels of UV-absorbing pigments, exposure to sunlight with an increased ratio of UV-B to visible light is stressful. © 1993.
