Anti-PVM polyclonal antibody [AP]

Perivascular macrophages (PVMs) constitute a subpopulation of resident macrophages in the central nervous system (CNS). They are located at the blood-brain barrier and can contribute to maintenance of brain functions in both health and disease conditions. PVMs have been shown to respond to particle substances administered during the prenatal period, which may alter their phenotype over a long period. We aimed to investigate the effects of maternal exposure to ultrafine carbon black (UfCB) on PVMs and astrocytes close to the blood vessels in offspring mice. Pregnant mice were exposed to UfCB suspension by intranasal instillation on gestational days 5 and 9. Brains were collected from their offspring at 6 and 12 weeks after birth. PVM and astrocyte phenotypes were examined by Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) staining, transmission electron microscopy and PAS-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) double staining. PVM granules were found to be enlarged and the number of PAS-positive PVMs was decreased in UfCB-exposed offspring. These results suggested that in offspring, "normal" PVMs decreased in a wide area of the CNS through maternal UfCB exposure. The increase in astrocytic GFAP expression level was closely related to the enlargement of granules in the attached PVMs in offspring. Honeycomb-like structures in some PVM granules and swelling of astrocytic end-foot were observed under electron microscopy in the UfCB group. The phenotypic changes in PVMs and astrocytes indicate that maternal UfCB exposure may result in changes to brain blood vessels and be associated with increased risk of dysfunction and disorder in the offspring brain.

Objectives: The criteria for identification of Enterococcus faecium (Efm) with the ability to cause human infections are currently being debated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Strains that have an MIC of ampicillin of < 2 mg/L and lack IS16/esp/hyl genes should be regarded as safe for use as feed additives in animal nutrition, despite the lack of knowledge about putative virulence marker (PVM) distribution in community Efm. We analysed the distribution of major PVM and ampicillin phenotypes in large Efm collections to investigate further the safety of strains from a public health perspective. Methods: Thirty-three PVM were assessed by PCR/sequencing among clonally disparate Efm (n = 328; 1986-2015) from different origins. We analysed ampicillin susceptibility (Etest/broth microdilution) according to EUCAST guidelines, clonal relationship (MLST) and genomic location of PVM (S1-PFGE/hybridization). Results: Infection-derived Efm were more enriched in PVM and the increase in ampicillin MIC was positively correlated with an enrichment in different PVM. PVM coding for surface (esp/sgrA/ecbA/complete acm) and pili proteins, or others enhancing colonization (hyl/ptsD/orf1481) or plasticity (IS16), were strongly associated with clinical Efm (mostly clade A1), but also observed in clades A2/B at different rates. ptsD was a good marker of ampicillin-resistant Efm. ptsD, IS16, orf1481, sgrA and hospital variants of complete pili gene clusters are proposed as markers to assess the safety of Efm strains. Conclusions: Our study expands on the distribution of PVM in diverse Efm lineages and demonstrates the enrichment in infection-derived strains of PVM not previously included in EFSA's list of Efm safety criteria. The evidence of relevant Efm infection markers can impact the risk assessment of Efm strains in different public health contexts.