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Cows produce a substantial amount of immunoglobulin in the colostrum, and nutraceutical products derived from these antibodies are gaining attention for their potential role in human viral disease prevention. The objective of our study was to develop an immunization schedule for pregnant cows to produce hyperimmune colostrum with antibodies presenting high avidity and neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. The recombinant spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) from SARS-CoV-2, expressed using the Expi293F system and purified via Ni-affinity chromatography, was solubilized in (1) saponin (QuilA) or (2) a suspension of potassium and aluminum hydroxide (Alum). Vaccination of pregnant cows and serum sample collection were performed 45, 30, and 15 d before the expected calving date. Serum and colostrum were also collected on the day of parturition. Anti-RBD IgG, IgG1, and IgG2 production, viral neutralization, and antibody avidity were evaluated by ELISA. Cows immunized with recombinant RBD with the QuilA adjuvant produced higher amounts of all antibody subclasses than cows in the Alum group. The viral neutralization index from serum samples was also higher in the QuilA group. Significant differences were not observed in the avidity of antibodies, except for that of IgG2, which was higher in the serum of cows receiving the Alum formulation. As the IgG1 antibody subclass and its avidity are crucial for SARS-CoV-2 neutralization, QuilA might be the optimal adjuvant for producing hyperimmune colostrum in cows. These findings support the use of cows as biofactories of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 or any future emerging and re-emerging viral diseases, with the possibility of simply substituting the subunit antigen in the vaccine formulation. Further tests must be done to evaluate the efficacy of using hyperimmune colostrum as a nutraceutical or purified bovine antibodies as a pharmacological approach for COVID-19 prevention., (© 2025, The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

White striping (WS) is a myopathy characterized by the appearance of white stripes parallel to the muscle fibers in the breast of broiler chickens, composed of adipose and connective tissues. This condition causes economic losses and, although common, its etiology remains poorly understood. Hence, the objective was to identify genes and biological mechanisms involved in the early stages of WS using a paternal broiler line that grows slightly slower than commercial ones, at 35 days of age, through the RNA sequencing of the pectoralis major muscle. Thirty genes were differentially expressed between normal and WS-affected chickens, with 23 upregulated and 7 downregulated in the affected broilers. Of these, 14 genes are novel candidates for WS and are implicated in biological processes related to muscle development ( CEPBD , DUSP8 , METTL21EP , NELL2 , and UBE3D ), lipid metabolism ( PDK4 , DDIT4 , FKBP5 , DGAT2 , LIPG , TDH , and RGCC ), and collagen ( COL4A5 and COL4A6 ). Genes related to changes in muscle fiber type and the processes of apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation, and differentiation are possibly involved with the initial stage of WS development. In contrast, the genes linked to lipid metabolism and collagen may have their expression altered due to the progression of the myopathy.

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a picornavirus that is endemic in swine, causing a vesicular disease clinically indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases, like foot-and-mouth disease. The widespread viral circulation, constant evolution, and economic losses caused to the swine industry emphasize the need for measures to control the agent. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of a whole-virus-inactivated vaccine using a representative contemporary Brazilian SVA strain in Balb/ByJ mice. The animals were vaccinated with two doses by an intramuscular route. The humoral response induced by the vaccination was evaluated by an in-house ELISA assay for IgG detection. The cellular response was assessed by flow cytometry after in vitro SVA stimulation in splenocyte cultures from vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups. Protection against SVA was assessed in the experimental groups following an oral challenge with the homologous virus. The vaccination induced high levels of IgG antibodies and the proliferation of CD45R/B220 + sIgM + , CD3e + CD69 + , and CD3e + CD4 + CD44 + CD62L - cells. These results indicate the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine formulation in a murine model and the induction of humoral and cellular response against SVA.

Introduction: White Striping (WS) and Wooden Breast (WB) pectoral myopathies are relevant disorders for contemporary broiler production worldwide. Several studies aimed to elucidate the genetic components associated with the occurrence of these myopathies. However, epigenetic factors that trigger or differentiate these two conditions are still unclear. The aim of this study was to identify miRNAs differentially expressed (DE) between normal and WS and WB-affected broilers, and to verify the possible role of these miRNAs in metabolic pathways related to the manifestation of these pectoral myopathies in 28-day-old broilers., Results: Five miRNAs were DE in the WS vs control (gga-miR-375, gga-miR-200b-3p, gga-miR-429-3p, gga-miR-1769-5p, gga-miR-200a-3p), 82 between WB vs control and 62 between WB vs WS. Several known miRNAs were associated with WB, such as gga-miR-155, gga-miR-146b, gga-miR-222, gga-miR-146-5p, gga-miR- 29, gga-miR-21-5p, gga-miR-133a-3p and gga-miR-133b. Most of them had not previously been associated with the development of this myopathy in broilers. We also have predicted 17 new miRNAs expressed in the broilers pectoral muscle. DE miRNA target gene ontology analysis enriched 6 common pathways for WS and WB compared to control: autophagy, insulin signaling, FoxO signaling, endocytosis, and metabolic pathways. The WS vs control contrast had two unique pathways, ERBB signaling and the mTOR signaling, while WB vs control had 14 unique pathways, with ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and endoplasmic reticulum protein processing being the most significant., Conclusions: We found miRNAs DE between normal broilers and those affected with breast myopathies at 28 days of age. Our results also provide novel evidence of the miRNAs role on the regulation of WS and in the differentiation of both WS and WB myopathies. Overall, our study provides insights into miRNA-mediated and pathways involved in the occurrence of WS and WB helping to better understand these chicken growth disorders in an early age. These findings can help developing new approaches to reduce these complex issues in poultry production possibly by adjustments in nutrition and management conditions. Moreover, the miRNAs and target genes associated with the initial stages of WS and WB development could be potential biomarkers to be used in selection to reduce the occurrence of these myopathies in broiler production., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Influenza A virus (IAV) is endemic in pigs globally and co-circulation of genetically and antigenically diverse virus lineages of subtypes H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 is a challenge for the development of effective vaccines. Virosomes are virus-like particles that mimic virus infection and have proven to be a successful vaccine platform against several animal and human viruses., Methods: This study evaluated the immunogenicity of a virosome-based influenza vaccine containing the surface glycoproteins of H1N1 pandemic, H1N2 and H3N2 in pigs., Results: A robust humoral and cellular immune response was induced against the three IAV subtypes in pigs after two vaccine doses. The influenza virosome vaccine elicited hemagglutinin-specific antibodies and virus-neutralizing activity. Furthermore, it induced a significant maturation of macrophages, and proliferation of B lymphocytes, effector and central memory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, and CD8 + T lymphocytes producing interferon-γ. Also, the vaccine demonstrated potential to confer long-lasting immunity until the market age of pigs and proved to be safe and non-cytotoxic to pigs., Conclusions: This virosome platform allows flexibility to adjust the vaccine content to reflect the diversity of circulating IAVs in swine in Brazil. The vaccination of pigs may reduce the impact of the disease on swine production and the risk of swine-to-human transmission., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Coccidiosis is a disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria that affect the intestinal tract of poultry. However, strain resistance and drug residue in the carcass have drawn the attention of the productive sector. The nanotechnology can improve the biological effect of drugs, reducing of administered doses and toxic effects. Due to this, toltrazuril-load polymeric nanoparticles based on Eudragit ® S100 (NCt) or poly-ε-caprolactone (LNCt) were developed to prevent coccidiosis in broilers. Nanoformulations were produced and showed homogeneous particle diameter distribution in the nanometer range ( z -average and D (4.3) < 200 nm), negative zeta potential (<-8.93 mV), drug content ~100%, and encapsulation efficiency >90%. Cell viability assays using avian fibroblasts showed that LNCt presented no relevant toxicity up to 72 h. LNCt was then prophylactically administrated to chicken followed by challenge with Eimeria oocysts. The evaluation of the small intestine and cecum showed that the treatment with LNCt (3.5 mg/kg/day) in drinking water reduced the lesion scores and oocysts excretion, similar to the reference medicine containing toltrazuril (Baycox ® , 7 mg/kg/day). The current study shows the potential protective use of nanoencapsulating anticoccidial drugs as a promising approach for the control of coccidiosis in poultry.