Bovine milk RNases modulate pro-inflammatory responses induced by nucleic acids in cultured immune and epithelial cells

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigens induce cellular immune responses in cattle without causing reactivity to tuberculin in the tuberculosis skin test

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) causes chronic progressive granulomatous enteritis leading to diarrhea, weight-loss, and eventual death in ruminants. Commercially available vaccine provides only partial protection against MAP infection and can interfere with the use of current diagnostic tests for bovine tuberculosis in cattle. Here, we characterized immune responses in calves to vaccines containing four truncated MAP antigens as a fusion (Ag85A^202-347-SOD^1-72-Ag85B^173-330-74F^{1-148+669-786}), either displayed on protein particles, or expressed as a soluble recombinant MAP (rMAP) fusion protein as well as to commercially available Silirum^® vaccine. The rMAP fusion protein elicited the strongest antigen-specific antibody responses to both PPDA and recombinant antigen and strong and long-lasting T-cell immune responses to these antigens, as indicated by increased production of IFN-γ and IL-17A in antigen-stimulated whole blood cultures. The MAP fusion protein particle vaccine induced minimal antibody responses and weak IFN-γ responses but stimulated IL-17A responses to recombinant antigen. The immune response profile of Silirum^® vaccine was characterized by weak antibodies and strong IFN-γ and IL-17A responses to PPDA. Transcription analysis on antigen-stimulated leukocytes from cattle vaccinated with rMAP fusion protein showed differential expression of several immune response genes and genes involved in costimulatory signaling, TLR4, TLR2, PTX3, PTGS2, PD-L1, IL1B, IL2, IL6, IL12B, IL17A, IL22, IFNG, CD40, and CD86. Moreover, the expression of several genes of immune pathways correlated with cellular immune responses in the rMAP fusion protein vaccinated group. These genes have key roles in pathways of mycobacterial immunity, including autophagy, manipulation of macrophage-mediated killing, Th17- and regulatory T cells- (Treg) mediated responses. Calves vaccinated with either the rMAP fusion protein or MAP fusion protein particle vaccine did not induce reactivity to PPDA and PPDB in a comparative cervical skin test, whereas Silirum^® induced reactivity to these tuberculins in most of the vaccinated animals. Overall, our results suggest that a combination of recombinant MAP antigens in the form of a soluble fusion protein vaccine are capable of inducing strong antigen-specific humoral and a balanced Th1/Th17-cell immune response. These findings, together with the absence of reactivity to tuberculin, suggest this subunit vaccine could provide protective immunity against intracellular MAP infection in cattle without compromising the use of current bovine tuberculosis surveillance test.

Draft Genome Sequence of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris Strain AGRTWHS02, Isolated from Pasture Soil of a Sheep Dairy Farm in New Zealand

Thermoactinomyces species are heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria that are capable of producing proteases. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a new Thermoactinomyces vulgaris strain, AGRTWHS02, with a strong proteolytic activity, which was isolated from a sheep dairy farm environment in New Zealand. The genome is 2.56 Mbp, with a GC content of 47.9%.

Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas saudiphocaensis Strain AGROB56, Isolated from a Dairy Farm in New Zealand

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a new Pseudomonas saudiphocaensis strain, AGROB56, with lipolytic potential, isolated from a sheep dairy farm in New Zealand. The genome is 3.61 Mbp, with a GC content of 61.1%, and the genome sequence was found closely related to Pseudomonas saudiphocaensis 20 BN^T

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a new Pseudomonas saudiphocaensis strain, AGROB56, with lipolytic potential, isolated from a sheep dairy farm in New Zealand. The genome is 3.61 Mbp, with a GC content of 61.1%, and the genome sequence was found closely related to Pseudomonas saudiphocaensis 20 BN^T.

Self-assembled particulate vaccine elicits strong immune responses and reduces Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in mice

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) causes chronic progressive granulomatous enteritis leading to diarrhoea, weight loss, and eventual death in ruminants. Commercially available vaccines provide only partial protection against MAP infection and can compromise the use of bovine tuberculosis diagnostic tests. Here, we report the development of a protein-particle-based vaccine containing MAP antigens Ag85A202-347-SOD1-72-Ag85B173-330-74F1-148+669-786 as a fusion ('MAP fusion protein particle'). The fusion antigen displayed on protein particles was identified using mass spectrometry. Surface exposure and accessibility of the fusion antigen was confirmed by flow cytometry and ELISA. The MAP fusion protein particle vaccine induced strong antigen-specific T-cell immune responses in mice, as indicated by increased cytokine (IFN-γ and IL-17A) and costimulatory signals (CD40 and CD86) in these animals. Following MAP-challenge, a significant reduction in bacterial burden was observed in multiple organs of the mice vaccinated with the MAP fusion protein particle vaccine compared with the PBS group. The reduction in severity of MAP infection conferred by the MAP fusion protein particle vaccine was similar to that of Silirum and recombinant protein vaccines. Overall, the results provide evidence that MAP antigens can be engineered as a protein particulate vaccine capable of inducing immunity against MAP infection. This utility offers an attractive platform for production of low-cost particulate vaccines against other intracellular pathogens.

Draft Genome Sequence of Clostridium cadaveris Strain AGRFS2.2, Isolated from a Bovine Dairy Farm in New Zealand

We report the draft genome sequence of a new Clostridium cadaveris strain, AGRFS2.2, isolated from soil in a bovine dairy farm environment in New Zealand. The genome is 3.6 Mbp long with a GC content of 31.3%. The genome sequence was found to be closely related to that of Clostridium cadaveris JCM 1392^T.

We report the draft genome sequence of a new Clostridium cadaveris strain, AGRFS2.2, isolated from soil in a bovine dairy farm environment in New Zealand. The genome is 3.6 Mbp long with a GC content of 31.3%. The genome sequence was found to be closely related to that of Clostridium cadaveris JCM 1392^T.

Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas nitrititolerans Strain AGROB37, Isolated from a Sheep Dairy Farm in New Zealand

We report the draft genome sequence of a new Pseudomonas nitrititolerans strain, AGROB37, isolated from a sheep dairy farm environment in New Zealand. The genome is 4.19 Mbp long, with a GC content of 63.2%. The genome sequence was found to be closely related to that of the type strain Pseudomonas nitrititolerans GL14.

We report the draft genome sequence of a new Pseudomonas nitrititolerans strain, AGROB37, isolated from a sheep dairy farm environment in New Zealand. The genome is 4.19 Mbp long, with a GC content of 63.2%. The genome sequence was found to be closely related to that of the type strain Pseudomonas nitrititolerans GL14.

Draft Genome Sequence of Clostridium cochlearium Strain AGROS13, Isolated from a Sheep Dairy Farm in New Zealand

We report the draft genome sequence of a new Clostridium cochlearium strain, AGROS13, which was isolated from a sheep dairy farm environment in New Zealand. The genome is 2.7 Mbp, with a GC content of 28.2%. The genome sequence was found to be closely related to that of Clostridium cochlearium ATCC 17787. The new strain harbors a biosynthetic gene cluster coding for an unknown sactipeptide.

Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Inter-Organism, Cross-Species Communication and Drug Delivery

Milk is considered as more than a source of nutrition for infants and is a vector involved in the transfer of bioactive compounds and cells. Milk contains abundant quantities of extracellular vesicles (EVs) that may originate from multiple cellular sources. These nanosized vesicles have been well characterized and are known to carry a diverse cargo of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and other biomolecules. Milk-derived EVs have been demonstrated to survive harsh and degrading conditions in gut, taken up by various cell types, cross biological barriers and reach peripheral tissues. The cargo carried by these dietary EVs has been suggested to have a role in cell growth, development, immune modulation and regulation. Hence, there is considerable interest in understanding the role of milk-derived EVs in mediating inter-organismal and cross-species communication. Furthermore, various attributes such as it being a natural source, as well as its abundance, scalability, economic viability and lack of unwarranted immunologic reactions, has generated significant interest in deploying milk-derived EVs for clinical applications such as drug delivery and disease therapy. In this review, the role of milk-derived EVs in inter-organismal, cross-species communication and in drug delivery is discussed.

Draft Genome Sequence of Clostridium senegalense Strain AGRFS4, Isolated from a Dairy Farm in New Zealand

We report the draft genome sequence of a new Clostridium senegalense strain, AGRFS4, which was isolated from a dairy farm environment in the Manawatu region in New Zealand. The genome is 3.98 Mb, with a GC content of 27%. The genome sequence was found to be 86.6% similar to that of the type strain Clostridium senegalense JC122. Until now, no Clostridium senegalense strain from New Zealand has been reported.

Milk MicroRNAs in Health and Disease

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs responsible for regulating 40% to 60% of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. The discovery of circulating microRNAs in several biological fluids opened the path for their study as biomarkers and long-range cell-to-cell communication mediators. Their transfer between individuals in the case of blood transfusion, for example, and their high enrichment in milk have sparked the interest for microRNA transfer through diet, especially from mothers to infants during breastfeeding. The extension of such paradigm led to the study of milk microRNAs in the case of cow or goat milk consumption in adults. Here we provide a comprehensive critical review of the key findings surrounding milk microRNAs in human, cow, and goat milk among other species. We discuss the data on their biological properties, their use as disease biomarkers, their transfer between individuals or species, and their putative or verified functions in health and disease of infants and adult consumers. This work is based on all the literature available and integrates all the results, theories, debates, and validation studies available so far on milk microRNAs and related areas of investigations. We critically discuss the limitations and outline future aspects and avenues to explore in this rapidly growing field of research that could impact public health through infant milk formulations or new therapies. We hope that this comprehensive review of the literature will provide insight for all teams investigating milk RNAs' biological activities and help ensure the quality of future reports.

Immune Modulation by Human Secreted RNases at the Extracellular Space

The ribonuclease A superfamily is a vertebrate-specific family of proteins that encompasses eight functional members in humans. The proteins are secreted by diverse innate immune cells, from blood cells to epithelial cells and their levels in our body fluids correlate with infection and inflammation processes. Recent studies ascribe a prominent role to secretory RNases in the extracellular space. Extracellular RNases endowed with immuno-modulatory and antimicrobial properties can participate in a wide variety of host defense tasks, from performing cellular housekeeping to maintaining body fluid sterility. Their expression and secretion are induced in response to a variety of injury stimuli. The secreted proteins can target damaged cells and facilitate their removal from the focus of infection or inflammation. Following tissue damage, RNases can participate in clearing RNA from cellular debris or work as signaling molecules to regulate the host response and contribute to tissue remodeling and repair. We provide here an overall perspective on the current knowledge of human RNases’ biological properties and their role in health and disease. The review also includes a brief description of other vertebrate family members and unrelated extracellular RNases that share common mechanisms of action. A better knowledge of RNase mechanism of actions and an understanding of their physiological roles should facilitate the development of novel therapeutics.