Cockburn Sound is a coastal embayment located to the south of Fremantle on the Western Australian coast. The region is an important industrial centre, receiving numerous discharges to the Sound including those by Kwinana Power Station, BP Refinery, Tiwest Refinery and Water Corporation. In addition, the embayment supports multiple uses including commercial fishing, defence, recreation and provision of drinking water. Current and potential water quality issues facing the embayment include reduced circulation and sediment plumes arising from dredging and infrastructure development and thermal and saline plumes resulting from industrial discharges.The Centre for Water Research at the University of Western Australia has conducted a series of detailed validations of the Estuary, Lake and Coastal Ocean Model (ELCOM), coupled with the Computation Aquatic Ecosystem Dynamics Model (CAEDYM) applied to Cockburn Sound. The high public profile of the site and the extent of the industrial use required extensive stakeholder interaction in the model construction and validation.The validated and calibrated three-dimensional model has provided an integrated tool for numerous applications, across various spatial and temporal scales, including:The impact of the Perth Seawater Desalinisation Plant on stratification and dissolved oxygen dynamics in the Sound;The influence of harbour modifications in Jervoise Bay on flushing of the Australian Maritime Complex harbours;The impact of Fremantle Ports Kwinana Quays development on circulation within the Sound; andThe impact of cooling water discharge from proposed High Efficiency Gas Turbines on thermal plumes.This paper presents the extensive validation process of ELCOM in Cockburn Sound, and the application of this integrated tool to assess the impact of numerous interventions on varying spatial and temporal scales. Future modelling directions will also be discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that fenceline contact between beef calves and cows at weaning reduces indices of behavioral distress and associated temporary reductions in weight gain. One hundred Angus/Hereford-cross calves were randomly assigned to five treatments for 7 d in each of 3 yr to determine the effect of different weaning techniques on their behavior and subsequent growth. Treatments were 1) fenceline separation from dams on pasture (F-P), 2) total separation from dams on pasture (S-P), 3) total separation from dams in a drylot (corral) preconditioned to hay (S-D-P), 4) total separation from dams in a drylot not preconditioned to hay (S-D-NP), and 5) nonweaned controls on pasture (C-P). At the end of the 7-d postweaning period, all calves were placed on pasture in large groups. Calves were weighed weekly for 10 wk. In the days following weaning, F-P and C-P calves spent more time eating (grazing or eating hay) than S-P and S-D-NP calves (P < 0.05). The S-P calves spent more time walking (pacing) than calves in the other four treatments (P < 0.05), which did not differ. The S-P calves also spent less time lying down than CP, F-P, and S-D-P calves (P < 0.05); S-P and S-D-NP calves did not differ in lying time. The F-P calves vocalized less than S-P and S-D-NP calves (P < 0.05). In general, treatment differences were greatest during the first 3 d following weaning with d 2 (20 to 30 h after weaning) showing the greatest disparity. The F-P calves spent approximately 60% of their time within 3 m of the fence separating them from their dams during the first 2 d following weaning, whereas F-P cows spent about 40% of their time within 3 m of the fence during this period. Postweaning cumulative body weight gains of the F-P calves were greater than the gains recorded for the calves in the three totally separated treatments (which did not differ). The F-P calves gained 95% more weight than the average calf in the three totally separated treatments in the first 2 wk and were still heavier at 10 wk (21.4 vs 11.0 kg, respectively, at 2 wk and 50.0 vs 38.2 kg, respectively, at 10 wk; P < 0.05). It was concluded that providing fenceline contact between beef calves and cows for 7 d following weaning reduces behavioral indices of distress seen in the totally separated calves. In addition, fenceline contact with dams at weaning minimizes losses in weight gain in the days following separation. Totally separated calves did not compensate for these early losses in weight gain even after 10 wk.

Rainbow trout were fed three experimental diets with varying levels of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) supplementation (0, 100 and 1000 mg kg(-1) diet), and the effects of feeding these diets on serum spontaneous haemolytic activity and classical complement activity were investigated. Hepatic alpha-tocopherol levels reflected the dietary intake of the vitamin. Fish fed the diet deficient in vitamin E showed reduced growth and increased mortality. Their hepatosomatic index and erythrocyte fragility was significantly higher than both the supplemented groups and haematocrit, and complement activity were all significantly lower. There appeared to be some enhancement of serum complement activity correlated with increased dietary supplementation with vitamin E but the benefits of supplementation at levels above those currently recommended were not established.

Conference Abstract| February 01 1999 Immunostimulatory peptides from fish waste hydrolysates L. Gilmartin; L. Gilmartin 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar J. Roper; J. Roper 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar R. Ravallec; R. Ravallec 2Station Biologie Marine, Concarneau, France Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar A. Gildberg; A. Gildberg 3Norwegian Institute of Fisheries Research, Tromso, Norway Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar E. Stenberg; E. Stenberg 3Norwegian Institute of Fisheries Research, Tromso, Norway Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar J. E. Harris; J. E. Harris 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar L. Jervis L. Jervis 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Biochem Soc Trans (1999) 27 (1): A53. https://doi.org/10.1042/bst027a053b Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Citation L. Gilmartin, J. Roper, R. Ravallec, A. Gildberg, E. Stenberg, J. E. Harris, L. Jervis; Immunostimulatory peptides from fish waste hydrolysates. Biochem Soc Trans 1 February 1999; 27 (1): A53. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst027a053b Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsBiochemical Society Transactions Search Advanced Search Keywords: Immunostimulation, peptides, fish This content is only available as a PDF. © 1999 Biochemical Society1999 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

The reaction of dimethyl benzoylphosphonates 1 (X = 2-halogen or 2-CF3O) with trialkyl phosphite leads to the formation of carbene intermediates 3 which are trapped by trialkyl phosphite to give the corresponding ylidic phosphonates 4. In acidic conditions these ylidic phosphonates decompose to give tetraalkyl phenylmethylene-1,1-bis(phosphonate)s 6 but in neutral or basic conditions they give mainly dimethyl benzylphosphonates and trialkyl phosphate. Factors influencing the mode of decomposition have been investigated.

The model protein antigen, human gamma globulin (HGG) was microencapsulated in poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles and administered orally to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1972). Using a Western blotting technique it was demonstrated that the dynamics of passage through the gut were different for the microencapsulated and soluble antigen. The association of HGG with microparticles increased the retention time of the antigen in the stomach and delayed its entry into the intestinal region. After the delivery of microencapsulated HGG, antigen was detected in gut contents in fragmented form which suggested that some of the antigen was present at the particle surface and therefore susceptible to proteolysis. However, a greater amount of intact antigen was detected in the posterior intestine and in the bloodstream of fish, which were administered with microparticle-associated than soluble antigen, indicating that the antigen was partially protected. Immunization with microencapsulated HGG resulted in the detection of specific antibody in the serum but levels were not significantly greater than after the delivery of soluble antigen. However, specific antibody was detected in the intestinal mucus of fish which were administered with the microencapsulated antigen after boosting with soluble HGG but not in fish which were primed with the soluble antigen.

An assay was developed to assess the integrity of a protein antigen after its oral delivery to rainbow trout. Human gamma globulin (HGG) was detected by Western blotting in gut contents from all regions of the rainbow trout digestive tract and in the circulation for up to 48 hr after oral administration. The form in which HGG was detected differed considerably between gut regions suggesting the various roles which these play in antigen degradation. HGG was also found in small amounts in the bloodstream and the fragmentation pattern of the antigen partly reflected that seen in the gut lumen. In some cases HGG fragments were detected in the plasma which were not found in contents from any gut region. The use of gastric inhibitors to neutralise gastric acidity influenced the pattern of HGG fragmentation seen in gastric contents but did not abrogate gastric proteolysis. However, by altering the pH in the stomach it was possible to modulate the nature of the antigen subsequently detected in the circulation.

Injection of extracts derived from adult caligid copepods induced a partial immunity to Lepeophtheirus salmonis in Atlantic salmon. Antigens were derived from the supernatant of adult lice extracts and were partially purified by Con A affinity chromatography. The antigens were also present in the pellet derived from adult lice extracts, Immunohistochemistry showed that antibodies present in the serum of rats immunized with the Con A purified extract bound predominantly to the gut of L. salmonis. Components of apparent sizes > 205 000, 165 000, 133 000, 130 000, 125 000, 114 000, 110 000, 96 000, 82 000, 78 000, 65 000, 46 000, 35 000, 31 000 and < 29 000 were present in the extract. Although the numbers of attached lice were initially higher on those fish in the immunized group, throughout the course of the challenge experiment the total numbers of lice did not vary greatly between the immunized or control groups of fish. Initially, an overall average of about 17 attached stages were recorded from each fish sampled and by the end of the experiment this figure had fallen to about five adult lice per fish. However, compared with control fish fewer gravid female lice were present on immunized fish and furthermore these lice possessed fewer eggs (P<0.01). No major differences in egg hatching success were recorded. Further exploitation of this would require the isolation and purification of the antigens responsible for the observed effects. The possibilities for the development of a salmon louse vaccine are promising.

Vaccination is potentially one of the most valuable methods of control against the caligid copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis, the salmon louse, a major pathogen of farmed salmonids in the Northern hemisphere. A search for suitable potential antigens from this complex metazoan parasite forms the basis of this study. Salmon louse homogenate was separated by column chromatography into specific fractions which were assayed for a range of enzyme activities. Fractions found to be associated with enzymic activity or peaks of UV absorbance were used to raise antisera in 44 Wistar rats. An immunocytochemical investigation of the midgut of the adult louse using these specific antisera revealed immunostaining of the lumenal and basal surfaces of the louse gut. It is suggested that the proteins in the chromatographic fractions may represent digestive enzymes and/or structural or functional components of the salmon louse gut.

The primary systemic and mucosal immune responses to an enterically delivered antigen (human gamma globulin, HGG) were studied in the tilapian Oreochromis mossambicus utilising a specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The enteric delivery of a single dose of HGG resulted in detectable levels of specific antibodies in the plasma, bile and cutaneous mucus which were lower than those achieved after a single intraperitoneal delivery. Anal delivery of HGG appeared to be capable of eliciting a greater antibody response than oral delivery and the delivery of HGG with Quil-A, in a variety of forms, increased the levels of antibodies generated after either route of administration and also altered the temporal kinetics of antibody generation. The results establish that enteric delivery systems can be rationally constructed so that significant immune responses may be elicited to enterically administered macromolecules in teleost fish.

The effects of three potential adjuvants, cholera toxin β-subunit (CTB); aluminium hydroxide [Al(0H)3] and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) on the absorption of human gamma globulin (HGG) from the gastrointestinal tract of the tilapian Oreochromis mossambicus, and subsequent antibody generation were investigated utilising specific ELISA assays. CTB increased the levels of HGG transcytosed into the plasma over levels observed after HGG delivery alone or delivery of HGG with either Al(OH)3 or NH4Cl. The enteric immunisation with HGG plus CTB or Al(OH)3 resulted in antibody titres that were raised above those observed after the enteric immunisation with the antigen on its own or with NH4Cl. Parenteral immunisation with each of the three adjuvants resulted in levels of specific antibodies similar to those achieved after immunisation with HGG alone.

The absorption of ferritin, following either oral or anal intubation, into the systemic circulation of carp, rainbow trout and a tilapian species was examined and quantified using rocket immunoelectrophoresis, whereas the appearance of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the systemic circulation of the tilapian species after either oral or anal intubation was quantified using an ELISA. In all three species greater levels of ferritin were detected in the plasma after anal intubation and significantly greater amounts were taken up by the intestine of the tilapian than the other two species. In the tilapian species there was no significant difference in the plasma levels of HRP following either oral or anal intubation, but in both cases peak levels were detected within 90 min of intubation.

Amorphous polyarylates derived from 12-50 mol % of a t-butyl-substituted diacid, e.g., 5-t-butylisophthalic acid, exhibit miscibility with the amorphous phase of polyamides having aromatic and aliphatic character. Equally critical to blend miscibility is the aliphatic/aromatic carbon atom ratio (exclusive of the amide functionality) of the polyamide. An aliphatic/aromatic carbon atom ratio (alpha) greater than 1.4 but less than 2.5 is necessary.

A light and electron microscopic study of the enterocytes and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (G ALT) of the flounder Platichthys flesus showed regional differences in the structure of the epithelial cells. Epithelial villi decreased in height and spatial complexity, but increased in overall thickness in the posterior intestine. There were no specialized cells comparable with mammalian M cells. Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) activity increased in the enterocytes and goblet cells in the anterior intestine where alkaline phosphatase activity was most pronounced in enterocytes. Adjacent cells were joined by tight junctions. Gut-associated lymphoid tissue was composed of isolated leucocytes in the epithelium and lamina propria with no accumulations. Numbers of intra-epithelial leucocytes were not statistically different in the various regions of the intestine. Five leucocyte types were distinguished among the gut-associated lymphoid tissue although lymphocytes and granulocytes were the most common. Granulocytes were positive for the Romanowsky stains with PAS/Alcian blue positive granules. Blast cells similar to large lymphocytes were unevenly distributed through the different regions of the intestine. Plasma cells were more numerous in the epithelium than in the lamina propria. Macrophages were rarely detected.

The localisation of orally and anally delivered antigen (human gamma globulin, HGG) was investigated in the tilapian, Oreochromis mossambicus, using several sensitive immunohistochemical and immuno-electronmicroscopical techniques. The antigen was absorbed rapidly across the intestinal enterocytes (after 15 min) and was observed in intimate contact with a variety of cells in the epithelium and lamina propria including gut-associated lymphoid tissue cells. The transcytosed antigen was also observed in the vicinity of underlying intestinal capillaries within 1 h. Several novel delivery systems were used employing the saponin adjuvant Quil-A as a direct adjuvant and in combination with antigen in defined multimeric forms. Quil-A had a direct effect on the intestine of O. mossambicus and on the levels of absorption of HGG and its subsequent cellular localisation. The results demonstrate the ability of the intestine of tilapia to absorb and to have potentially relevant immune interactions with orally and anally delivered protein antigens and the potential of enhancing antigen absorption with saponin adjuvants.

The immune responses of rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon naturally infected by the copepod parasite, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, were compared, by ELISA, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry with the responses of rabbits and rainbow trout immunised with whole adult lice homogenates. At least 31 antigens of adult lice were identified by serum from immunised rabbits and a comparable number by serum from immunised trout. Compared with immunised animals, the serum responses of naturally infected salmon were at a very low level recognising only five antigens in samples reduced with 2-mercaptoethanol and one major antigen in unreduced samples, which were shown by immunohistochemistry to be exclusively associated with the gut of the parasite. No serum response was observed in either naturally infected or control trout or in control salmon. Antigenic differences between chalimus and adult stages of the parasite were examined by probing with rabbit and trout antisera. The results demon-strate that the trout immune system is capable of producing antibodies to many lice components and that some antigenic differences exist between adult and chalimus stages of L. salmonis.

Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) was investigated in adult fish using histological procedures. GALT was present in all regions of the gut, most extensively in the intestine, as individual cells or small aggregations in both the epithelium and lamina propria. Accumulations were observed in the lamina propria but were random in their distribution. Four types of leucocyte were identified; lymphocytes, macrophages, plasma cells and granulocytes. These tissue granulocytes and a typical blood granulocyte were identified in the gut. Following oral intubation of ferritin, large macrophages containing ferritin associated with membranous vesicles were observed in the basal region of the epithelium of the intestine. Twenty-four hours after intubation, Macrophages containing ferritin were located in the lamina propria of the intestine.

Peripheral blood leucocytes were examined for their fine structure and their in vivo response to colloidal carbon particles and bacteria, Aeromonas salmonicida. Four main types of leucocyte were identified: lymphocytes, thrombocytes, monocytes and granulocytes. Previously, two types of granulocyte had been identified but at the electron microscope level a third type could be distinguished in the peripheral blood. Monocytes and the type 1 and type 3 granulocytes were found to be phagocytic.

Archaebacterial glycerol-bisdiphytanyl-glycerol tetraether core lipids containing from one to eight cyclopentane rings could be resolved from each other and from the parent uncyclized C40,C40 lipid by TLC. The core lipids of examples from the genera Methanobacerritcm, Meghambrevhcter, Methanogenium and Methanoplm#cr did not contain cyclized forms of glycerol-bisdiphytanyl-glycerol tetraethers, whereas the core lipids of Methumsarcina barkeri contained glycerol-bisdiphytanyl-glycerol tetraethers with from one to three cyclopentane rings in each C40 isopranoid chain.