Effect of lipopolysaccharide on intranasal administration of liposomal Newcastle disease virus vaccine to SPF chickens

In order to potentiate the low immunogenicity of the inactivated Newcastle disease virus immunized into chickens by mucosal route, liposomes as a drug delivery system and LPS (lipopolysaccharide) as an immuno-stimulator were evaluated. Here, we report a new nasal delivery system of inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine. The intranasal vaccine was based on different lipids to form MLV (multi-lamellar vehicles) liposomes. The liposomes had combined carrier and adjuvant activities, which induced strong systemic (serum) and local (lung and nasal) humoral responses in SPF (specific-pathogen-free) chickens, and provided protective immunity. PC-Lip (phosphatidylcholine-liposome) elicited significant mucosal secretary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) levels (p < 0.05) in tracheal lavage fluid and serum IgG levels (p < 0.05). In response to virulent viral challenge, birds treated with PBS (phosphate buffered saline) as control group died, whereas 80% of chickens which received PC-Lip, PC-Lip-LPS, PS-Lip (phosphatidylserine-liposome), and PS-Lip-LPS survived. HAI titers were 1:2560 in the PS-Lip-LPS group and 1:1280 in the PC-Lip, PC-Lip-LPS, and PS-Lip groups after two vaccinations. The results suggest that PC-Lip or PS-Lip might thus be suitable as a potential adjuvant for mucosal vaccination against NDV in chickens.     

Isoflavone transformation during soybean koji preparation and subsequent miso fermentation supplemented with ethanol and NaCl

Soybeans were soaked with water for 4 h, steam-cooked, inoculated with the conidia of Aspergillus oryzae, and incubated for 3 days for koji preparation. The koji was then mixed with water-soaked and steam-cooked soybeans (1:2, w/w), ground into paste, and supplemented with 15% ethanol and 12.5% NaCl or 3% ethanol and 6% NaCl for miso fermentation at 30 degrees C. Daidzin, genistin, daidzein, and genistein contents were extracted from the lyophilized and pulverized soybean powder or from the miso homogenate by a developed one-tube procedure and analyzed with an HPLC. After water soaking, daidzein and genistein contents increased markedly, whereas daidzin and genistin contents decreased. Further increases of daidzein and genistein contents and decreases of daidzin and genistin contents were observed after koji mold growth. During fermentation, fungal and lactic acid bacterial (LAB) growth in the miso products was inhibited, whereas soluble protein contents increased much more rapidly in the low-salt miso products supplemented with 3% ethanol and 6% NaCl than the other products. When the 4- and 8-week-fermented miso products were cooked with tofu for sensory evaluation, flavor ratings of the low-salt products were higher than that of a popular commercial product. In both products, the most daidzins and genistins were hydrolyzed after 4 weeks of fermentation. The hydrolytic enzymes contributing to isoflavone transformation originated from soybeans after water soaking and from koji with mold growth. It was of merit that the low-salt fermented products were fairly acceptable in flavor rating and rich in daidzein and genistein contents after 4 weeks of fermentation.     

Nicotinamide in relation to dietary nicotinic acid and nine other vitamins and larval development of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

This study was undertaken to understand why Ceratitis capitata larvae reared on a diet fortified with nine vitamins except nicotinic acid had 100% mortality, while those reared on a 10-vitamin-free diet had 66% survival (Chang, C. L.; Li, Q. X. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 2004, 97, 536-540). Our results showed that nicotinamide was detected at a level of 0.07 microg/g in second-instar larvae reared on the 10-vitamin-free diet and 0.30 microg/g in the corresponding spent diet, while it was not detected in either the larvae reared on the diet fortified with 707 microg/g of nine vitamins (nicotinic acid absent) or the corresponding spent diet. Nicotinamide was detected at concentrations of 0.13 and 0.15 microg/g in the larvae fed the diets that were fortified with 707 microg/g of nine other vitamins and 2 and 20 microg/g of nicotinic acid, respectively, but it was not found in the larvae fed the 0.2 microg/g of nicotinic acid diet. Nicotinamide was detected at concentrations of 0.44, 0.52, and 0.55 microg/g in the spent diets that were fortified with the nine vitamins (707 microg/g) and 0.2, 2, and 20 microg/g of nicotinic acid, respectively. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) was in the live larvae, but not in the dead larvae. These findings indicate that dietary nicotinic acid is converted to nicotinamide, which, in turn, is used to synthesize NAD, and suggest a positive relationship between C. capitata larvae survival rates and concentrations of dietary nicotinic acid and nitcotinamide in the larvae as well as in the spent diets. The result shows that nicotinamide derived from supplemental nicotinic acid is essential for the development and survival of C. capitata larvae. Nicotinamide may be a biomarker for larval survival and development.     

Peanut roots as a source of resveratrol

A potent antioxidant, resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene), was extracted using 80% methanol from peanut roots (Arachis hypogaea L.), isolated with a solid-phase extraction column, purified by a semipreparative HPLC, and identified with 1H NMR and MS. The highest and lowest resveratrol contents in the peanut roots of 2000 fall and 2001 spring crops were 1.330 and 0.130 mg/g and 0.063 and 0.015 mg/g, respectively. When the dehydrated peanut root powders of spring and fall crops were combined and cooked with pork-fat patties (1%, w/w) and the separated oils were stored at 60 degrees C for conjugated diene hydroperoxide (CDHP) determination, CDHP contents of the control oils increased after 3 days of storage, whereas the contents in the peanut root-treated oils of spring and fall crops did not increase after 9 and 15 days of storage, respectively. It is of merit to find that peanut roots, usually left in the field as agricultural waste, contain resveratrol and bear potent antioxidative activity.     

A physical concept of soil-water equilibria for nonionic organic compounds

Soil-water equilibrium data suggest that the transfer of nonionic chemicals from water to soil may be described in terms of a hypothesis of solute partitioning in the soil organic matter. This concept allows estimation of soil-water distribution coefficients either from solvent-water partition coefficients or aqueous solubilities.     

Effect of met-myoglobin reductase on the color stability of blue fin tuna during refrigerated storage

ABSTRACT: To investigate the reducing ability of met-myoglobin (metMb) reductase, browned tuna meat was immersed with/without metMb reductase (0.103 unit/mL) for 120 min at 4°C. The metMb reductase activity of browned tuna meat significantly increased, whereas no significant change was observed in the control sample for the first 10 min of immersion ( P > 0.05). After comparing the changes in metMb reductase activity, metMb content, Hunter's 'a' and color, it was observed that the reductase did recover the bright red color. To further confirm the role of metMb reductase in color stability, fresh tuna meat was first immersed in metMb reductase (0.503 unit/mL) or a mixture of reductase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) (1 mM) solutions at 5°C for 10 min, and then stored at 4°C and relative humidity 100%. No significant changes in metMb accumulation and in metMb reductase activity were observed between samples treated with enzyme alone and enzyme + NADPH ( P > 0.05). Changes in metMb reductase activity, metMb, Hunter's 'a' value and color for both the control and treated samples suggested that immersion in metMb reductase could extend the color stability of tuna meat, and that the enzymatic reduction of metMb by its reductase occurred during refrigerated storage.     

Properties of extracellular ice-nucleating substances from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas fluorescens</Emphasis> MACK-4 and its effect on the freezing of some food materials

ABSTRACT:   Pseudomonas fluorescens MACK-4, isolated from mackerel surface, has an ice-nucleating activity (INA). In addition to bacterial cells, this strain could also produce an extracellular ice-nucleating substance (INS) with a maximal INA at pH 6.0. The extracellular INS (EINS) was stable at pH 6–9 during 1-h incubation with 3–5% of saccharides including maltose, trehalose and sucrose at 15°C. However, glycerol dramatically lowered the INA in both bacterial cells and the EINS. The addition of either the EINS or bacterial cells significantly elevated the ice-nucleating temperatures of pure water, full-cream milk, and 10% starch solution, but not orange juice and mackerel mince. The EINS produced from this strain could serve as crystal nuclei and accelerate ice crystallization during freezing.     

Effects of Gonadotropins on In Vitro Maturation and of Electrical Stimulation on Parthenogenesis of Canine Oocytes

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of gonadotropins on in vitro maturation (IVM) and electrical stimulation on the parthenogenesis of canine oocytes. In experiment I, cumulus oocyte complexes were collected from ovaries at a random phase of the oestrus cycle and cultured on maturation medium treated with hCG or eCG for 48 or 72 h. There were no significant differences in the effects on the metaphase II (MII) rate between the hCG and eCG treatment groups over 48 h (5.4% vs 5.5%). The MII rate in the co-treatment group of hCG and eCG for 48 h was higher than in each hormone treated group (15.5%, p < 0.05). In experiment 2, the parthenogenetic effect on oocyte development, at various electrical field strengths (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 kV/cm DC) for 60 or 80 μs with a single DC pulse after IVM on the co-treatment of hCG and eCG, was examined. The rate of pronuclear formation (37.1%) in electrical activation at 1.5 kV/60 μs without cytochalasin B (CB) was higher than that of oocytes activated in the other groups (p < 0.05). However, we did not observe the cleavage stages. Also, CB did not influence parthenogenesis of canine oocytes. The results showed that the pronucleus formation rate, indicative of the parthenogenesis start point, could be increased by electrical stimulation. Therefore, these results can provide important data for the parthenogenesis of canine oocytes and suggest the probability of parthenogenesis in canines.     

Antitumor and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Cyclic Tetrapeptides and Tripeptides Derived from Marine Bacteria

Marine derived cyclo(Gly-l-Ser-l-Pro-l-Glu) was selected as a lead to evaluate antitumor-antibiotic activity. Histidine was chosen to replace the serine residue to form cyclo(Gly-l-His-l-Pro-l-Glu). Cyclic tetrapeptides (CtetPs) were then synthesized using a solution phase method, and subjected to antitumor and antibiotic assays. The benzyl group protected CtetPs derivatives, showed better activity against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the range of 60–120 μM. Benzyl group protected CtetPs 3 and 4, exhibited antitumor activity against several cell lines at a concentration of 80–108 μM. However, shortening the size of the ring to the cyclic tripeptide (CtriP) scaffold, cyclo(Gly-l-Ser-l-Pro), cyclo(Ser-l-Pro-l-Glu) and their analogues showed no antibiotic or antitumor activity. This phenomenon can be explained from their backbone structures.     

Effect of nitrogen in combination with elevated temperatures on insects,microbes and organoleptic characteristics of stored currants

In the present study, the effect of nitrogen, applied as a controlled atmosphere treatment on the microbial and entomological loads, as well as on the organoleptic characteristics of stored dried currants (Corinthian raisins, Vitis vinifera L. var. Apyrena), was investigated. Trials were conducted under “real world” conditions, in the nitrogen chambers of a commercial facility, in which nitrogen was introduced by using an incorporated nitrogen generator. Prior to the initiation of the trial, chambers were filled with pallets carrying dried black currants. Subsequently, currants were artificially infected with all life stages of Tribolium confusum, eggs and larvae of Ephestia elutella and adults of Oryzaephilus surinamensis. Currants were exposed for 3 days in nitrogen (O₂ concentration <1 %) at two temperature levels, 25 and 38–43 °C. After treatment, insect mortality was recorded and currant samples were collected and forwarded for microbial analysis and determination of their organoleptic characteristics. When nitrogen was applied at 25 °C, high insect mortality levels were noted; however, in most cases there were a number of insects that survived the nitrogen treatment. In contrast, complete control was achieved at 38–43 °C for all insect species and life stages tested, with the exception of T. confusum larvae. Nitrogen application at 25 °C had no effect on total microbial and yeast and mould counts, while both were reduced at 38–43 °C. Sensory attributes of Corinthian currants remained acceptable after nitrogen fumigation, although taste, odour, aroma and overall acceptance were affected by the treatments. Total phenolic as well as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content increased after nitrogen application at 38–43 °C, while the lower temperature applied had no effect. The results of the present study suggest that nitrogen-based controlled atmosphere at elevated temperature could be a valuable tool for ensuring clean, pest-free, hygienic standards in dried Corinthian currants.