Recent preclinical and clinical studies provide evidence that adoptive transfer of in vitro activated T cells can results in significant antitumour responses in vivo upon acquisition of certain survival and homing properties during in vitro activation. Based on recent studies showing in vivo antioxidant effects of thymoquinone (TQ), the active ingredient of Nigella sativa seeds, this study aims to determine whether or not TQ can increase survival and sustain the expression of the homing receptor CD62L in antigen-specific T cells in vitro. The results showed that stimulation of OT-1 (transgenic CD+) T cells with OVA antigen resulted in activation, as shown by a decrease in the surface expression of CD62L which coincided with significant apoptosis measured three and five days after antigen stimulation. Addition of low concentrations of TQ during CD85+ T-cell activation resulted in enhanced survival of the activated T cells and sustained expression of CD62L. These effects coincided with enhancement in the capability of CD8+ T cells to produce the effector cytokine interferon-gamma (IFNgamma). These results suggest that TQ has a beneficial effect in conditioning T cells in vitro for adoptive T-cell therapy against cancer and infectious disease.

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Background: Interleukin (IL)-12 is a potential adjuvant in a variety of diseases including schistosomiasis. The clinical use of IL-12, however, is limited by the toxicity associated with its systemic administration. We have developed a novel delivery system (designated F2 gel matrix) composed of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine that has the dual properties of sustaining the release of proteins (e.g. interleukins) and adjuvant effects. The main aim of this study was to use a mouse model to test whether IL-12 released from F2 gel can induce adjuvant effects in the schistosomiasis setting as compared to those obtained after systemic delivery of IL-12. Methodology: First, we compared the toxicity induced by paracrine (delivered by F2 gel) and systemic IL-12. Second, we compared the induction of cytokines induced by paracrine and systemic IL-12. Third, we compared the adjuvant effects of paracrine and systemic IL-12-based prophylactic vaccination against schistosomiasis using soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP). Results: IL-12 released from F2 gel did not induce significant toxicity measured by alanine aminotransferase (ALT). We found similar serum levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 after paracrine and systemic IL-12 treatments. We also found that vaccination with F2 gel/SWAP/IL-12 induced higher anti-schistosomal effects than IL-12/SWAP as evidenced by 1) the decrease in the total liver egg counts; 2) the reduction in the granuloma size and fibrotic reaction in the liver; and 3) the amelioration of the liver functions. Conclusion: Collectively, these results indicate that IL-12-F2 gel delivery approach could be considered as a potential strategy for the treatment of schistosomiasis.

In addition to its nutritive value, there are ample studies regarding the me-dicinal properties of the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus fruit bodies. Howev-er, finding such medicinal activities from submerged mycelium culture will be of considerable interest. The present study aimed to determine the antioxidant and immunomodulating activities of P. ostreatus mycelial extract. The scavenger activity was determined using DPPH, while the im-munomodulating activity was determined by measuring the in vitro prolifer-ative capacity of murine splenocytes as well as the phenotypic and matura-tion of bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs). The present results showed increases in the scavenging activity of P. ostreatus mycelial extract compared to ascorbic acid control group, and increases in the proliferative capacity of murine splenocytes compared to vehicle control, except with the higher con-centration. In addition, BMDCs stimulated with P. ostreatus mycelial extract elicited increases in surface expression of CD11c+and CD80, suggesting that P. ostreatus treatment directly induces BMDCs to mature. These results re-vealed considerable antioxidant and immunomodulating effects of P. os-treatus mycelium suggesting its potential application as an immunomodu-lating agent in pharmaceutical, nutritional complement and even medical studies.

The present study was included two trails. The first trail was started from sexual maturity at 6 months of age up to fulfillment two parities in order to evaluate the effects of treatment with either oxytetracycline or enrofloxacin on some physiological parameters, as well as , the reproductive performance of female Bouscat rabbits, In this respect, 36 does were randomly divided into three groups. The first group was used as a control group and was subcutaneously injected with saline solution (1 ml of 0.9 % NaCl). The second and three groups were subcutaneously injected with 50 mg oxytetracycline and 2.5 mg enrofloxacin/ kg body weight, respectively. The 2 nd trail, lasted 8 weeks (from weaning at 5 weeks up to 13 weeks of age) in order to evaluate the effects of injection of some antimicrobials (tetracycline and enrofloxacin) on productive performance of growing Bouscat rabbits. In this respect, 60 weaning Bouscat rabbits (30 males and 30 females, 5 weeks old), as similarly in the 1 st part. Results showed that the live body weight was increased with oxytetracycline and decreased with enrofloxacin as compared to the control. Treatment with either oxytetracycline or enrofloxacin increased the total number of RBCs after mating and decreased it during pregnancy, lactation period and at sacrifice. The WBCs of rabbits treated with oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin were significantly increased than the control group. The platelets count of rabbits treated with oxytetracycline was decreased after mating and during pregnancy and increased during lactation and at sacrifice. In oxytetracycline-treated does, there was a slight increase in hemoglobin concentration. The serum AST was significantly decreased in female rabbits treated with oxytetracycline one-week after the 1 st injection, ALT was also insignificantly decreased by treatment with oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin as compared with the control group. After the 1 st injection; oxytetracycline insignificantly decreased the creatinine and significantly decreased urea concentration, while enrofloxacin increased the serum levels of both creatinine and urea. At sacrifice, the progesterone level was significantly increased by treatment with oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin. Estradiol level significantly increased in both oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin-treated does after mating, during pregnancy and at sacrifice.