Assessment of the Antibacterial Effect of Chitosan Coated with Heracleum persicum Oil on Rainbow Trout Quality

Today, due to the rapid spoilage of fish, the use of natural preservatives is a priority over those of synthetic varieties. Also, the natural antimicrobial effects of essential oils can help to increase shelf life. There are very few studies concerning the use of essential oils in this regard. In the present study, the antibacterial effect of chitosan coated with Heracleum persicum oil was investigated on the quality of rainbow trout. The control and the coated fish samples were analyzed periodically by generalized estimating equation (GEE) for total viable count (TVC), psychrophilic bacteria, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptance parameters. The results showed that by increasing the amount of chitosan, TVC, psychrophilic bacteria, and TVB-N decreased while PUFA, texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptance parameters increased.     

Production of Antioxidative Maillard Reaction Products from Gelatin Hydrolysate of Unicorn Leatherjacket Skin

Antioxidative activities of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) derived from gelatin hydrolysate (GH) of unicorn leatherjacket skin as affected by types of saccharides, GH to saccharide ratio, incubation temperatures, relative humidity (RH), and times were investigated. MRPs prepared using mixture of GH and galactose at 2:1 (w/w) ratio showed the highest antioxidative activity. At different incubation temperatures (50–70°C) and RHs (55–75%), optimal condition for preparing antioxidative MRPs included heating GH and galactose (2:1) powder at 70°C and 55% RH for 36 h. Electrophoresis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the formation of high molecular weight polymers, and the advanced glycation took place in MRPs.     

Effect of cortisol and triiodothyronine bath treatments on the digestive enzyme profile and growth of Catla catla larvae during ontogenic development

Digestive enzyme profile is a good indicator of the nutritional and health status of the fish. The present investigation aims to evaluate the effect of exogenous bath treatment of hormones, cortisol and triiodothyronine, on the digestive enzyme activities and growth of carp Catla catla (Ham.) during ontogenic development. Catla larvae (4 days old) were given bath treatment with cortisol (hydrocortisone, 0.2 mg L^?1), 3,5,3′‐triiodothyronine (T3, 2.5 mg L^?1) and a combination of cortisol and T3 for 30 min. Digestive enzyme profile was recorded on every third day and was continued for 30 days. Larvae were fed with live food for initial 14 days and then weaned to mix feeding of live food and prepared diet. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher amylase, total protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, chitinase and chitinobiase activities were found in the hormone‐treated groups compared to the control one during ontogenic development. Among the treated groups, amylase activity was highest in cortisol‐treated larvae. Total protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, chitinase and chitinobiase activities were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in larvae exposed at combined treatment of cortisol and T3 compared to the other two groups in most sampling days. Average length, weight and specific growth rate of treated larvae were higher compared to the control one. The combined bath treatment of cortisol and triiodothyronine influenced the digestive enzyme activities of catla larvae and thereby enhanced the growth at early developmental stage. This helps the larvae to overcome the problems associated with early developmental stage.     

Effects of dietary protein to energy ratios on growth,body composition and digestive enzyme activities in Chinese mitten‐handed crab,Eriocheir sinensis

This study aimed to determine the optimal protein to energy ratio (P/E ratio) and evaluate the effect of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth performance, body composition and digestive enzymes activities in Chinese mitten‐handed crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Nine practical diets containing three levels both for protein (DP 30%, 35% and 40%) and lipid (DL 2%, 7% and 12%) with P/E ratios ranging from 13.69 to 19.79 mg KJ^?1 were fed to four replicates of crabs (3.39 ± 0.10 g) for 10 weeks. Weight gain increased significantly with the increase in DP level at each DL level. Moreover, weight gain increased in crabs fed with diets containing DL level from 2% to 12% and DP level from 30% to 35%. However, the diet containing 40% DP and 12% DL levels significantly decreased the growth performance and protein efficiency of the crabs. The whole crab and hepatopancreas lipid contents also increased as dietary lipid increased, but not dietary protein. The total protease activity increased significantly with the increase in dietary protein at each lipid level. The lipase activity was statistically comparable among different DL levels at each DP level. Taken together, the crab fed the diet containing 35% protein and 12% lipid levels with P/E 15.77 mg KJ^?1 revealed optimal growth, feed utilization efficiency and digestive enzymes activities. Moreover, our study indicated that the higher dietary lipid level at a relatively lower dietary protein level could provide protein sparing effect in Eriocheir sinensis.     

温度对波纹龙虾消化酶活力的影响

研究了波纹龙虾温度对不同消化器官中消化酶活力的影响,为人工饲料科学配制依据。用酶学分析方法,设计6个温度梯度(20℃、25℃、30℃、35℃、40℃和45℃),分别测定波纹龙虾胃、肠和肝胰脏的类胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶的活力。结果显示:在反应温度20℃~45℃范围内,波纹龙虾胃、肠、肝胰脏内的消化酶均随着温度的升高表现为先升后降趋势;不同消化器官中胃蛋白酶活力值出现拐点的温度不一样,胃、肠和肝胰脏的胃蛋白酶活力最大的温度分别是30℃、35℃和40℃;不同消化器官胃蛋白酶的活力有显著差异(P0.05),大小依次为胃肠肝胰脏;波纹龙虾不同消化器官的类胰蛋白酶出现最大酶活力的温度相同,为40℃,但胃的类胰蛋白酶活力明显较肠和肝胰脏的低(P0.05),差值最大可达40 U/mg;波纹龙虾胃、肠和肝胰脏的淀粉酶活力在25℃均出现最大值;在消化器官中,肠道淀粉酶活力最大,与胃和肝胰脏的酶活力有显著性差异(P0.05);波纹龙虾胃、肠和肝胰脏内的脂肪酶活力最大的温度为30℃,活力最高的是肝胰脏,胃内的脂肪酶活力明显的比肠和肝胰脏的要低(P0.05)。     

Characterization of Collagen Enzymatic Hydrolysates Derived from Lizardfish (Synodus fuscus) Scales

Acid soluble collagen was extracted from the scales of lizardfish and characterized with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and amino acid analysis. After 8 h of collagen hydrolysis, hydrolysates had an estimated degree of hydrolysis (DH) from 4 ± 0.05 to 25 ± 0.63% (p < 0.05). All hydrolysates had angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activity. These activity levels showed little change after treatment with gastrointestinal proteases. Results indicated that the lizardfish by-products may be improved by enzymatic treatment with acid-soluble collagen from lizardfish scales.     

Effect of dietary GroBiotic®‐A supplementation as a prebiotic on the intestinal microflora,growth performance,haemato‐serological parameters,survival rate and body composition in juvenile beluga (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1754)

The objectives of the present study were to investigate of GroBiotic^®‐A (GBA) on growth, autochthonous intestinal microbiota and haemato‐serological parameters of beluga juvenile. A total of 180 fish (40.82 ± 5.81 g) were fed diets containing graded levels of GBA (0, 5, 10 and 20 g kg^?1 diet) for 8 weeks. No significantly differences in body composition, total viable aerobic bacteria, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, albumin, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were detected between treatment groups. The fish fed on 10 and 20 g kg^?1 GBA significantly showed higher lactic acid bacteria, final weight, body weight increases, weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio compared with the control and 5 g kg^?1 groups. The group fed 20 g kg^?1 GBA showed a highly significant difference in condition factor, survival rate, final length, total red and white blood cells, lymphocytes, haematocrit, haemoglobin, total protein, total immunoglobulin and lysozyme activity. The specific growth rate of the treatment groups was significantly elevated compared with the control groups. These results indicated that GBA at level 20 g kg^?1 improved growth, welfare and survival of beluga juvenile.     

Coexisting invasive gobies reveal no evidence for temporal and trophic niche differentiation in the sublittoral habitat of Lake Erhai,China

Niche differentiation facilitates the coexistence of species within a community through avoidance of competition via mechanisms involving spatial, temporal and/or trophic dimensions. Where invasive species coexist in their non‐native range, niche differentiation could allow their persistence at higher levels of abundance. Here, we tested whether there was temporal and/or trophic niche differentiation between two congeneric invasive goby species (Rhinogobius cliffordpopei and Rhinogobius giurinus) in the sublittoral habitat of Lake Erhai (south‐west China) through quantifying their diel and seasonal rhythm of locomotion activities, feeding activities and diet composition. Both species displayed two similar diel peaks in activity and two main feeding periods (6:00–10:00 and 18:00–22:00), with rhythms of locomotion and feeding activity not differing significantly between the species in each season. Their diets had a high degree of overlap, being primarily composed of macrozooplankton, aquatic insects and shrimp larvae, with no diel changes across the seasons. Thus, in this habitat, there was no clear temporal or trophic niche differentiation between the invasive congeners, indicating their coexistence with high temporal and trophic overlap. In conjunction with data from the littoral and profundal habitats, the gobies revealed different strategies across the habitats (e.g. spatial segregation, trophic niche differentiation) that minimised their competitive interactions and promoted their coexistence. This suggests that the interactions of invasive fishes during the integration into native communities can be context dependent, varying according to factors including habitat and the availability of food resources.     

Differential regulation on C5 expression in goose versus mammals by glucose/palmitate provides a potential protection for goose fatty liver

Goose fatty liver is a specific type of nonalcoholic fatty liver that is protected from harmful effects associated with severe steatosis. Our previous findings suggest that suppression of the complement C5 may be relevant, but the mechanism is unclear. Therefore, in this study, we first verified the expression pattern of complement genes (including C5) during goose fatty liver formation and then determined the liver fat content and fatty acid composition by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), followed by selecting the differential metabolites to treat HepG2, goose and mouse primary hepatocytes, aiming to explore the mechanism of C5 and inflammation suppression in goose fatty liver. The data confirmed the suppression of complement genes (including C5) in goose fatty livers. Moreover, fat content was significantly higher in fatty liver versus normal ones, with oleic acid and palmitic acid dominantly accounting for the difference. In line with this, high concentration of palmitate led to down regulation of C5 expression in goose primary hepatocytes whereas upregulation in mouse primary hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. In conclusion, regulation on C5 expression by fatty liver related factors including high level of palmitic acid may contribute to the protection of goose liver from severe hepatic steatosis.     

具有除草活性的生防菌株GD-9发酵条件优化及菌剂制备

为了明确具有除草活性的生防菌株GD-9发酵过程中各因子的配比和最优条件,采用单因素试验对菌株最适碳源、氮源、载体、固态发酵基质进行了筛选,应用正交试验设计研究了碳源、氮源、初始含水量、接种量、初始pH、培养时间、培养温度7种因素对菌株活菌数的影响。试验结果表明菌株GD-9最佳固态发酵条件为:氮源NaNO_3 58.4 mg/g,碳源葡萄糖48.4 mg/g,培养基质最适初始含水量为258 mg/g,最适接种量为0.26 mL/g,初始pH 7.6,最佳培养时间147.8 h,最佳培养温度30.7℃,最适宜的载体为黏土,分散剂为聚乙烯醇,稳定剂为膨润土,润湿剂为糊精。通过发酵试验结果制备生防菌株GD-9的固体菌剂,该研究为菌剂的商品化生产奠定基础。