Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, leading to abnormal anion transport and consequent airway dehydration and hyper-viscous mucus. Potential difference (PD) testing measures voltage across the epithelium and can be a sensitive marker for changes in ion transport reflective of CFTR activity. By the conventional method, agar gel salt-bridge-based probes in combination with calomel electrodes have been used to measure transepithelial PD across the respiratory mucosa, allowing discrimination between healthy controls and CF. This method is known to be cumbersome and subject to errors due to discontinuity in salt bridges as a result of entrained air that are difficult to detect and a lack of real time visual guidance for probe placement, adversely affecting quality control and data analysis. These limitations are particularly relevant to endobronchial PD, where visualization is less precise, and the chance of electrical discontinuity with extended salt bridges is greater. We developed a novel portable probe system with onboard silver-silver chloride electrodes, integrated gas removal to extract gas bubbles, and optical coherence tomography-mediated visual guidance to provide a platform for improved accuracy and sensitivity of CFTR functional testing that can be adapted for endobronchial PD testing. We also developed a bedside electrocell simulator for the validation of probe performance, ensuring real-time external validation and use of probes that exhibit optimal performance characteristics before human measurements. In a pilot nasal PD study in CF subjects and non-CF controls (n = 10), measurements with the new probe were feasible with discrimination between disease groups. Bland-Altman suggested limited agreement (mean difference: -2.44, SD 4.79; 95% limits of agreement -11.84 to 6.95), but the Deming regression demonstrated a consistent linear relationship despite proportional bias (b = 1.21, P < 0.001) and the Somers' D indicated moderate concordance in rank ordering (0.56; 95% CI: -0.24 to 0.90). These results establish proof of principle of the new device and support the need for further validation in a larger sample.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cystic fibrosis (CF) impairs CFTR protein function, disrupting ion transport and airway hydration. Traditional potential difference (PD) testing uses salt-bridge probes and calomel electrodes, but is error-prone due to air bubbles and poor visual guidance, especially in endobronchial applications. A novel probe with integrated silver-silver chloride electrodes, gas removal, and OCT guidance improves accuracy and usability. Validation through benchtop and preliminary human nasal testing shows 55% concordance with conventional methods, supporting its clinical potential.

Two Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) isolates from clinical cases of porcine pleuropneumonia in Japan, positive for ApxIA, ApxIIA, and ApxIVA, were nontypeable using the agar gel diffusion (AGD) test but positive in the capsular serovar 1-specific PCR assay. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and lipopolysaccharide O-polysaccharide of the isolates were identical to those of serovar 1 reference strain 4047. The main difference found in the CPS loci was a loss of 7 nucleotides at the 3'-end of the cps1D gene in the atypical isolates, which is responsible for the defect in CPS production. Consistent with the serologic and molecular findings, transmission electron microscopic analysis confirmed the absence of detectable capsular material in the 2 atypical isolates. Collectively, our results suggest that this type of APP, defective in CPS production, may severely hamper serologic typing of the pathogen.

This study investigated the effects of alkaline pretreatment and drying methods on the physicochemical properties of Gelidium amansii and the quality of the resulting agar jelly. Seaweeds with or without alkaline pretreatment were subjected to either sun-drying or shortwave infrared (SWIR) lamp-drying for three or seven cycles to evaluate whether SWIR drying could replace conventional sun-drying by reducing drying time and whether alkaline pretreatment could enhance gel hardness. The results showed that both drying methods effectively reduced moisture content, while the alkaline pretreatment significantly increased the ash content, likely due to the removal of water-soluble components. Marked color improvement was observed after seven cycles of sun-drying or following alkaline pretreatment, with the appearance changing from purplish red to bright golden yellow, which is closer to traditional quality expectations. Although SWIR lamp-drying was more energy-efficient, it resulted in limited color improvement. Volatile compound analysis revealed that deviations from the fresh control increased with the number of sun-drying cycles, whereas alkaline pretreatment and infrared-drying induced more pronounced changes in volatile profiles. Among all of the treatments, Gelidium subjected to seven sun-drying cycles produced jellies with the most favorable texture, indicating enhanced agar gel formation through repeated washing and drying. In contrast, the combination of alkaline pretreatment and infrared-drying restricted agar extraction, likely due to tissue hardening and insufficient light intensity, resulting in weak or negligible gel formation. Overall, both the drying method and alkaline pretreatment significantly influenced the Gelidium quality and agar gel properties; despite being labor-intensive, traditional washing and sun-drying processes remain critical for achieving desirable product quality.

An agar gel-based non-alkaline zinc–air battery was constructed through direct injection and encapsulation processes based on the transformation mechanism of agar heating-dissolution and cooling-solidification, achieving high zinc utilization rates.

Background: Escherichia coli bacteria are common in the environment, and the immune systems of humans and animals are essential for fighting these pathogens. Aim: This study aimed to produce, purify, and characterize chicken immunoglobulin Y (IgY) specific against E. coli as a passive immunity candidate. Methods: A single E. coli was isolated from the enteric tract of fascicularis. In this study, two groups of 22-week-old hens, each consisting of three hens, with a body weight range of 2–3 kg, were vaccinated with E. coli inactivated either with 4% formaldehyde overnight (Group A) or at 90°C for 2 hours (Group B). In the first week (priming), each chicken group was injected intramuscularly with 0.5 ml of vaccine containing E. coli at a concentration of 109 Colony Forming Unit without Montanide ISA 70 as an adjuvant. In the second week (booster), each chicken group was injected with 0.5 ml of vaccine containing E. coli at the concentration 109 CFU mixed with Montanide ISA 70 at a volume ratio of 3:7. At the third week (final booster), each chicken group was injected with 0.5 ml of vaccine containing E. coli at the concentration 109 CFU mixed with Montanide ISA 70 in a volume ratio of 3:7. Serum and egg samples were collected before booster administration at week 1 and following booster administration at weeks 2, 3, and 6. Results: Based on the agar gel precipitation test, the IgY titer on the chicken Group A step-by-step increase in antibody titer, with serum IgY titers of 22 and 32 at weeks 3 and 6, respectively egg yolk IgY titers of 21 and 22 at weeks 3 and 6, respectively. The IgY titer in group B had a high antibody titer, with serum IgY titers of 23 at both weeks 3 and 6, and egg yolk IgY titers of 21 and 23 at weeks 3 and 6, respectively. The results of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of purified serum and egg yolk at weeks 3rd and 6th , revealed protein bands with molecular weights of approximately 65 and 25 kDa. The 65 kDa protein band is hypothesized to correspond to the heavy chain of IgY, whereas the 25 kDa band is presumed to represent the light chain of IgY. Immunoblotting of E. coli proteins with various preparations revealed approximately 29 kDa, which can be recognized by IgY, an adhesin protein. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that inactivated E. coli vaccination can increase IgY titers in chickens, which is a potential candidate for passive immunity against E. coli.

Background: Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is an endemic poultry disease in Bogor Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. This highly contagious disease spreads through direct contact with infected chickens, contaminated feces, virus-laden air, or asymptomatic carriers, such as birds. Among these carriers, pigeons (Columba livia) and spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis) are commonly kept as pet birds and frequently interact with domesticated chickens, thereby increasing the risk of transmission. The high mutation rate of IBV, which generates numerous variants, further amplifies the risk. IBV can mutate within these asymptomatic carriers when pigeons and spotted doves act as reservoirs. Mutations may facilitate viral evolution and recombination, potentially leading to the emergence of new variants with varying pathogenicity. Aim: This study aimed to identify the potential of pigeons and spotted doves as reservoirs of IBV and perform molecular characterization of isolated IBV strains. Methods: A total of 7 pigeons and 8 spotted doves, acquired from Bogor Regency bird shops, were divided into four groups by species and observed for 12 weeks at the university animal facility. During this period, cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected every 2 weeks and pooled to streamline analysis. Then, 24 pooled samples were inoculated into three 9-day-old embryonated chicken eggs to facilitate virus isolation. Following the inoculation process, IBV detection was conducted using agar gel precipitation assay, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and morphological observation of the embryos. In addition, agar gel precipitation (AGP) and RT-PCR were directly performed on the swabs without prior virus isolation to ensure comprehensive detection. RT-PCR targeted the nucleocapsid (N) and untranslated region genes, while the following nested RT-PCR targeted the spike gene (S1). To gain deeper insights into the viral characteristics, PCR products that tested positive for IBV were further analyzed through sequencing. Results: No birds showed clinical signs of IBV infection during the observation period. The AGP results showed IBV in direct swab samples collected between weeks 2 and 8. Virus isolation using embryonated chicken eggs extended the detection period, identifying IBV in samples collected from weeks 0 to 12. Similar results were obtained using RT-PCR, but only the S1 gene was successfully detected. Isolated IBV strains caused dwarfing and hemorrhage in embryos. The detected IBV isolates shared a high similarity with IBV 1/96, a 793B-like variant commonly used in disease vaccines, according to sequencing analysis. Conclusion: Pigeons and spotted doves may act as reservoirs for IBV, as the disease is detected in their swabs and through isolation in embryonated eggs. IBV from these isolates not only causes embryonic damage but is also closely related to the IBV 1/96 (793B-like) vaccine strain. The results show the importance of monitoring pigeons and spotted doves as part of comprehensive IBV control strategies.

Introduction. The problem of bovine leukosis on breeding farms in the Republic of Dagestan has been a pressing issue since the mid-1960s. Due to the fact that the coverage of planned serological testing did not exceed 1–2% of the existing population of susceptible animals, there was no clear understanding of the scale of leukosis spread. Objective. Analysis of the current situation regarding the spread of bovine leukosis on breeding farms in the Republic of Dagestan. Materials and methods. Animals infected with the bovine leukemia virus were identified using the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID). Animal disease control measures were assessed in accordance with the new “Veterinary Rules for the Implementation of Preventive, Diagnostic, Restrictive and Other Measures as well as for the Imposition and Release of Quarantine and Other Restrictions Aimed at Containing Bovine Leukosis as well as at Eradicating its Outbreaks” approved by Order No. 156 of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia of March 24, 2021. Results. The bovine leukemia virus infection rate in animals in the period 2009–2017 ranged from 0.1 to 77.3%. With the adoption of the subprogram “Prevention and Eradication of Bovine Leukosis on Farms in the Republic of Dagestan” (2018–2020) under the republican target program, serological testing coverage has increased by more than 5.7 times over the past seven years, and the detection rate of new seropositive animals has decreased from 23.6 to 0.1% in 2024. Conclusion. Epizootological analysis revealed a heterogeneous structure and dynamics of the bovine leukosis spread in cattle. The system of measures aimed at prevention and eradication of bovine leukosis in cattle implemented in the Republic of Dagestan has led to sustainable stabilization of the disease situation and a reduction in the infection rate in animals on breeding farms. Owing to the veterinary service’s systematic efforts to eradicate the viral infection, breeding farms are now completely free from bovine leukosis. Health improvement work, including the use of serological diagnostics and immediate culling of AGID-positive animals, continues.

The environmental sustainability of cleaning materials used in heritage conservation remains poorly quantified despite growing attention to the replacement of hazardous petroleum-based solvents with bio-based alternatives. This study applies a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCIA) to compare conventional solvents with innovative bio-based formulations, including Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs), Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES), and aqueous or organogel systems used for cleaning painted surfaces. Following ISO 14040/14044 standards and using the Ecoinvent v3.8 database with the EF 3.1 impact method, three functional units were adopted to reflect material and system-level scales. Results demonstrate that water-rich systems, such as agar gels and emulsified organogels, yield significantly lower climate and toxicity impacts (up to 85–90% reduction) compared with petroleum-based benchmarks, while FAME and DES exhibit outcomes highly dependent on allocation rules and baseline datasets. When including application materials, cotton wipes dominate total environmental burdens, emphasizing that system design outweighs solvent substitution in improving sustainability. The study provides reproducible data and methodological insights for integrating LCIA into conservation decision-making, contributing to the transition toward evidence-based and environmentally responsible heritage practices.

Abstract We demonstrate the realization of refractometric measurements relying on the study of the transmission spectrum of filled capillary fibers. In the method reported herein, the fiber is filled with a material with a lower refractive index than that of the capillary and, due to antiresonant guidance mechanism, a characteristic transmission spectrum alternating high and low attenuation regions is obtained. The refractive index data is hence extracted by analyzing the spectral positions of the fiber transmission bands. While this method holds broad applicability for diverse materials, we specifically applied this technique to characterize the refractive index of agarose gels, due to their interest as a promising optical material. By analyzing the transmission spectra across the 600–900 nm wavelength range, we determined the dispersion trend for agar gels prepared with varying water and glycerol concentrations and estimated their first-order Sellmeier coefficients. The reported refractometric method provides a simple and promising means for characterizing the dispersion properties of a wide range of materials, including gels, solids, and liquids, also opening new possibilities for the development of new refractive index sensing platforms.

Avian influenza (AI) is a significant disease affecting chickens and other avian species. Wild birds are thought to contribute to the virus transmission. The present study intends to explore the existence of AI type A virus in wild birds at the Six April Zoo, Khartoum State, Sudan. A total of 42 cloacal and tracheal swabs were collected from clinically healthy individuals belonging to five different wild bird species. The selected wild bird species were Common crane Grus grus, Sudan crowned crane Balearica pavonina, Helmeted guinea fowl Numida meleagris, Duck sp. Anatidae and Chestnut-billed sand grouse Pterocles exustus. Swabs were examined for AI virus antigen using the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test, and all tested swabs produced positive results. The swab samples were inoculated into embryonated chicken eggs. The isolated virus was identified by AGID test and polymerase chain reaction. The virus was isolated from swabs collected from Grus grus, Balearica pavonina, Numida meleagris, Duck sp. Anatidae and Pterocles exustus. Subtyping of the isolated viruses was performed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, which identified the H5 subtype.ContributionThe present study confirmed the existence and isolation of type A AI virus from different species of wild birds as well as subtyping of its virus for the first time in Khartoum State, Sudan.

Sewage, animal feces, heavy metals, pathogenic microbes,and otherpollutants can contaminate floodwater. Fresh vegetables that havebeen submerged in floodwater or that might have been exposed to contaminatedwater are not safe to consume. Pollutants may enter plant tissuesin addition to being on the outside of fruits and vegetables. In theautumn of 2024, there were great floods in central Bosnia and Herzegovina.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of floods on heavymetals and microbe content in the soil and plant tissue. Twenty-onesamples of soil and sludge were prepared by extraction with aqua regiaand EDTA, for the measurement of pseudo-total and available amountsof metals. Samples of chard were taken from flooded areas and fromareas outside of floods (controls). The chard samples were dividedinto roots, stems, and leaves. The quantity of nine heavy metals (Cu,Zn, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Fe, Cr, and Mn) was measured by means of AtomicAbsorption Spectroscopy with flame atomization (FAAS). Statisticalevaluation included descriptive statistics (maximum, minimum, andaverage), principal component analysis (PCA), correlations, bioaccumulationfactor, and translocation factor. The total bacterial count was determinedusing R2A agar, while the Most Probable Number method was appliedfor quantifying total coliforms and spore-forming bacteria. The CNanalyzer measured the total content of C and N. The average concentrationsof metals followed the sequence Cd < Co < Cr < Cu < Ni< Zn < Pb < Mn < Fe. The sludge had the highest averagecontent of Pb, Fe, Cu, and Zn. Soil samples showed high backgroundconcentrations of Pb and Cd, and in some cases, concentrations werehigher than permissible amounts. In plants, the highest concentrationsof heavy metals were found in roots and leaves. Zn, Mn, and Co hadpositive (root/shoot) translocation factors in all cases. The highesttotal bacterial count, exceeding log 11, was observed in three soilsamples. In contrast, two samples of sludge exhibited a significantlylower bacterial abundance, falling below log 6. Chard showed highability to accumulate Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, and Co. In some cases, chardhas amounts of Cd higher than permissible, but it is not a consequenceof flooding. Although high concentrations of lead are found in thesoil samples, it is mostly kept within the root system.

Graphical Abstract Highlight Research 7% NaOH gave the highest agar yield (13.54%) and gel strength (49.53 g/cm²). High alkali and heat reduced phytochemical content. FTIR showed structural degradation at elevated temperatures. Nutritional profile suggests similarity to Gracilaria changii. Abstract The growing industrial demand for agar underscores the need for efficient, sustainable extraction methods that ensure both high yield and product quality. However, optimizing key processing parameters for agar extraction from farmed Gracilaria sp. remains a challenge due to variations in species composition, cultivation environment, and extraction practices. Current production often relies on empirical or non-standardized conditions, leading to inconsistencies in gel strength, color, and purity that affect industrial applicability. This study examines the properties of agar extracted from an unidentified Gracilaria species, with characteristics closely matching Gracilaria changii. Using different NaOH concentrations (3%, 5%, 7%) and temperatures (70°C, 80°C, 90°C), the effects on agar yield, gel strength, color, water retention capacity (WRC), and structure were analyzed. The highest agar yield (13.54%) was obtained at 90°C with 7% NaOH, while the best gel strength (49.53 g/cm²) was recorded at 80°C under the same alkali concentration. FTIR confirmed polysaccharide features but revealed degradation at higher temperatures. Overall, 7% NaOH was identified as the optimal alkali concentration, balancing high yield and desirable gel properties. These findings offer valuable insights for enhancing agar extraction efficiency from Gracilaria sp. and advancing standardization in industrial agar production.

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria poses a global health challenge, underscoring the need for strategies that restore the effectiveness of existing drugs. Here, we demonstrate that amphiphilic Janus nanoparticles (NPs), with separate polycationic and hydrophobic hemispheres, act as effective antibiotic adjuvants that synergistically enhance the activity of conventional antibiotics. Unlike uniformly cationic NPs, Janus NPs exhibited strong synergy with multiple antibiotics against Acinetobacter baumannii, including the multidrug-resistant clinical isolate A. baumannii A42-2. Embedding Janus NPs in agar gel provided a stable platform that reproducibly increased antibiotic susceptibility in various Gram-negative bacteria, including A. baumannii and highly motile species such as Escherichia coli. These findings demonstrate that amphiphilic Janus NPs can synergistically boost antibiotic activity and that embedding them in gels yields a stable platform for assessing their performance and potentially deploying them in future biomedical applications.

Infectious diseases are an important constraint to the health and productivity of working equids. However, data quantifying the occurrence and distribution of many viral diseases in working equids in Ethiopia are limited. Thus, this study focuses on molecular detection of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and serological and molecular detection of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) in equids. Paired whole blood and serum samples were collected from 270 equids. The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and analyzed using PCR. Specific primers were used for PCR amplification targeting a 1209 bp of the EHV-1 glycoprotein D (gD) gene and 196 bp of the EIAV gag gene. Furthermore, EIAV was detected in serum samples using an agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test. In this study, EHV-1 was detected in 12 (4.4%) equids, with a higher proportion of equids displaying neurological clinical signs (16.1%, 10/62) than those with respiratory clinical signs (1.0%, 2/208). A higher proportion of EHV-1 infections was recorded in donkeys (7.9%, 8/101) than in horses (2.4%, 4/169), while females were affected more frequently (6.6%, 10/152) than males. EIAV was detected in 2 out of 270 samples (0.7%) using the AGID test, and one sample that tested positive using PCR was confirmed by sequencing a 196 bp fragment of the gag gene. Both EIAV-positive horses originated from Angolela ena Tera district. The analysis of the 196 bp fragment of the gag gene of EIAV revealed 91.8 to 99.4% relatedness with EIAV isolates in the GenBank. However, further work on complete genome sequencing is necessary to assess genomic variability. Given the lack of treatment or vaccine for EHV-1 and EIA in Ethiopia, disease control is entirely dependent upon identification and removal of infected animals from the population. This warrants a critical need for further research in order to devise a sound epidemiological control strategy.

The progressive aging of the population requires reliable, non-invasive, and real-time tools to monitor hydration, prevent dehydration-related complications, and promote active aging in elderly patients. Wearable sensors based on interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) and on Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) represent a promising tool thanks to their miniaturization, sensitivity to dielectric variations with humidity, and compatibility with flexible substrates. This study reports the design, fabrication, and metrological characterization of inkjet-printed IDEs for skin hydration monitoring, as a building block of a multisensor wearable device. IDEs were fabricated on polyimide substrates using silver nanoparticle-based ink. Their characterization involved the following: (i) morphological evaluation by scanning electron microscopy; (ii) EIS measurements in KCl solutions, leading to developing a regression model to correlate impedance with salt concentration; (iii) in vitro EIS validation on agar gel samples, which demonstrated a robust linear relationship between the impedance phase shift at 199.5 and water loss, with consistent sensitivity values across sensors. The results confirm the feasibility of IDEs for hydration monitoring, identifying optimal frequency ranges and validating regression models. These findings represent a critical step toward the development of multisensor wearable devices for elderly monitoring, enabling decentralized and continuous health monitoring to improve healthcare sustainability and telemedicine.

ABSTRACTOpportunistic colonization and recurring infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are substantial risks to lung functionality for people with underlying respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The complex metabolic and phenotypic adaptations P. aeruginosa exhibits in response to its environmental conditions make relevant in vitro models of pathogenic populations crucial for identifying and evaluating effective antimicrobial targets. However, an extracellular component that is rarely integrated into these experimental platforms is a spatially extensive, semisolid gel medium representative of biological respiratory mucus layers that P. aeruginosa propagates through via active motility. In this investigation, we examine the applicability of swim plate assays, a qualitative methodology for measuring flagellar swimming motility, as an in vitro platform to study the spatiotemporal development of P. aeruginosa strain PA14. The propagation behavior of PA14 was tracked through time‐lapse microscopy and studied under different agar gel compositions incorporating methylcellulose as well as native MUC5AC mucin. To aid quantitative characterization of PA14 population expansion, we paired this experimental workflow with a continuum model that would fit density profile fluctuations to changes in PA14 swimming motility and growth kinetics. We observed higher extracellular concentration and production of the phenazine pyocyanin when PA14 populations were grown in swim plate assays, supporting the emergence of heterogeneous growth environments within the microbial population. PA14 swim plates exhibited a significantly lower spreading velocity in gels containing 0.30% w/v MUC5AC, which model‐to‐experiment fitting results determined to be driven by reductions in PA14 swimming motility. Continuum model parameters additionally portrayed PA14 expansion in mucin gels, having cell growth outcompeting cell motility, which aligned with experimental assay observations of macrocolonies rapidly developing to high biomass density states. In contrast, PA14 did not show spreading velocity differences in gels containing 0.30% methylcellulose, and fitted parameters did not identify major growth and motility differences when compared to agar‐only gels. Combined with the resource accessibility of this experimental platform, the swim plate assay as an in vitro model is well suited to investigations of pathogenic community dynamics in gel conditions over more extensive spatial and time scales.

Construction and characterization of Pickering emulsion stabilized by agar-phenylalanine complex microgel particles.

Background:Pasteurella multocida is a significant pathogen that affects various domestic and feral animals, causing substantial economic losses in livestock production worldwide.Aim:This study aimed to develop and characterize specific antibodies against P. multocida through active vaccination in rabbits, with potential applications in vaccine development and diagnostic testing.Methods:New Zealand White rabbits were used in a systematic immunization protocol using heat-inactivated P. multocida adjusted to McFarland 4 concentration. The vaccination schedule implemented a graduated dosing approach consisting of three weekly administrations, beginning with 0.5 ml in the first week and increasing to 1.0 ml in weeks two and three. Serum samples were collected at weekly intervals and evaluated using the Agar Gel Precipitation Test (AGPT). Initial precipitin lines were detected 14 days after the first vaccination, with antibody responses peaking by week three.Results:Vaccinated rabbits demonstrated positive AGPT results by the third week, maintaining stable precipitin lines through the six-week study period. The antibodies produced showed consistent specificity against both laboratory reference strains and P. multocida field isolates.Conclusion:This study establishes an effective protocol for generating specific anti-P. multocida antibodies in rabbits, providing valuable resources for the development of diagnostic tools and vaccines against P. multocida infections in livestock.

Differentiating infected from vaccinated animals: Validation and application of NH-AGID assay in heifers immunized with Brucella abortus strain A19-∆VirB12

New compostable materials have been developed to replace single-use soft materials such as polyurethane foams (PUR). To this end, eco-friendly systems have been formulated on the basis of agar gels prepared in mixed solvent (glycerol/water) to meet specifications, i.e., stiffness of several hundred kPa, reasonable extensibility, and good stability when exposed to open air. While the addition of glycerol slows down gelation kinetics, mechanical properties are improved up to a glycerol content of 80 wt%, with enhanced extensibility of the gels while maintaining high Young’s moduli. Swelling analyses of mixed gels, in water or pure glycerol, demonstrate the preservation of an energetic network, with no change in volume, in pure water and the transition towards an entropic network in glycerol related to the partial dissociation of helix bundles. Dimensional and mechanical analysis of gels aged in an open atmosphere at room temperature shows that the hygroscopic character of glycerol enables sufficient water retention to maintain the physical network, with antagonistic effects linked to relative increases in glycerol, which tends to weaken the network, and agar, which on the contrary strengthens it. Complementary analyses carried out on aged agar gels formulated with an initial glycerol/water mass composition of 60/40, the most suitable for the targeted development, enabled the comparison of the properties of agar gels favorably with those of PURs and verified their stability during long-term storage, as well as their non-toxicity and compostability.