Dietary organic acids blend alone or in combination with an essential oil on the survival,growth, gut/liver structure and de hemato‐immunological in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of organic acids blend (OAB) alone or in combination with essential oil, Lippia origanoides (OAE) for Nile tilapia fed supplemented diets for 30 days. Fish (1.1 ± 0.04 g) were fed control (Control), or OAB 0.5% or OAB 0.5% + essential oil 0.125% (OAE) respectively. At the end of the experiment, samples were collected for de hemato‐immunological, histological analysis of the intestine and liver, as well as microbiology of the intestine. The pH of the diets supplemented with OAB and OAE reduced 0.92 and 0.19 respectively. The growth and FCR were unaffected by the treatments, but survival was significantly higher in the OAB treatment. Fish fed the OAB diet showed reduced concentration of total heterotrophic bacteria and Pseudomonas sp. in the intestine. Increased glucose in fish fed OAB and high number of circulating monocytes in fish fed OAE diet were observed. The anterior intestine of fish fed OAE diet showed larger number of goblet cells and increased villi height. The diet supplemented with OAB, mainly, improved the intestinal health and survival of tilapia juveniles and can be used in juvenile production.     

Screening of Human CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 Inhibitors from Seaweed In Silico and In Vitro

Phenolic compounds and carotenoids are potential inhibitors of cytochrome P450s. Sixteen known compounds, phenolic compounds and carotenoids from seaweed were examined for potential inhibitory capacity against CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in silico and in vitro. Morin, quercetin, and fucoxanthin inhibited the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in a dose-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ values of morin, quercetin, and fucoxanthin were 41.8, 22.5, and 30.3 μM for CYP1A2 and 86.6, 16.1, and 24.4 μM for CYP3A4, respectively. Siphonaxanthin and hesperidin did not show any significant effect on CYP1A2, but they slightly inhibited CYP3A4 activity at high concentrations. In silico modeling of CYP’s binding site revealed that the potential inhibitors bound in the cavity located above the distal surface of the heme prosthetic group through the 2a or 2f channel of CYPs. This study presents an approach for quickly predicting CYP inhibitory activity and shows the potential interactions of compounds and CYPs through in silico modeling.     

四种鱚属鱼类线粒体Cyt b基因的序列变异及系统发育研究

测定和分析了4种鱚属(Sillago)鱼类:斑鱚(Sillago aeolus)、亚洲鱚(S. asiatica)、多鳞鱚(S. sihama)和少鳞鱚(S. japonica)线粒体细胞色素b基因序列片段,比较了不同鱚属鱼类种间的序列差异,探讨了彼此间系统发育关系和分类地位。结果显示,4种鱼类平均核苷酸组成为T 29.9%、C 29.2%、A 21.5%、G 19.3%,种间平均净遗传距离在0.157到0.280之间。最大似然法构建的系统树显示,少鳞鱚和亚洲鱚首先聚类、再与多鳞鱚和斑鱚相聚,斑鱚是最晚分化出的鱼类。基于Cyt b基因序列核苷酸分歧速率计算得出4种鱼类发生遗传分化时间在距今785—1400年前的第三纪中新世(Miocene)。     

Effect of sulphide in Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei under varying oxygen and pH levels

Sulphide is one of the known environmental stressors, which potentially binds to cytochrome C oxidase (COX), a key enzyme in the electron transport chain, thereby blocking oxygen transport and ATP production. To ascertain the toxic effects of sulphide on Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, two distinct exposure experiments were carried out with varying concentration of sulphide (0–1 mg/L), dissolved oxygen (normoxia and hypoxia) and pH values (8.2, 6 and 5). The activity of enzymes viz COX, superoxide dismutase (SOD), phenoloxidase and lactate accumulation was investigated. Outer membrane integrity and COX monomer separation were also done with the isolated crude mitochondrial preparations. Results indicated a significant reduction (p ≤ .05) in COX enzyme activity in sulphide exposed treatments when compared to control. The reduction was more intense when pH levels were reduced under hypoxia condition. Lactate accumulation as a result of anaerobic metabolism was found to be higher in hypoxic treatments. No significant difference (p ≥ .05) was observed in superoxide dismutase activity between the treatments, whereas phenoloxidase activity significantly decreased at higher concentration sulphide. Separation of mitochondrial proteins resulted in the identification of ~205 kDa of COX monomer, and significant damage was found in outer membrane integrity under hypoxia and pH treatments. From this study, it is evident that at a given concentration, sulphide is toxic to P. vannamei, and in association with hypoxia and low pH, they further intensify sulphide toxicity. Our results indicated that sulphide toxicity should not be considered as a single factor, rather it should be a considered as combination of factors.     

The use of COLD‐PCR,DHPLC and GeneScanning for the highly sensitive detection of c‐KIT somatic mutations in canine mast cell tumours

The conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/sequencing methods may be poorly suited for the detection of somatic mutations in canine mast cell tumour (MCT) samples owing to limited sensitivity. This study was aimed at establishing novel and more sensitive methods, assessing their limit of detection and comparing their sensitivity with conventional methods.Two different ‘driver’ somatic mutations of c‐KIT, together with the wild‐type counterparts, were cloned in plasmids to prepare standard samples with known concentrations of mutated alleles in a background of wild‐type alleles; the plasmids standards were assayed using either conventional or novel, highly sensitive technique. Conventional PCR/sequencing showed a sensitivity of 50–20%. Conversely, all the novel methods obtained higher sensitivities allowed reaching as low as 2.5–1.2% of the mutated DNA.The study demonstrates that early conventional methods could likely have underestimated the prevalence of KIT mutations of MCTs, therefore affecting the assessment of their relevance in prognosis and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment effectiveness.     

The value of molecular expression of KIT and KIT ligand analysed using real‐time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry as a prognostic indicator for canine cutaneous mast cell tumours

This study investigated the correlation between KIT gene expression determined by immunohistochemistry and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and the rate of tumour recurrence and tumour‐related deaths in dogs affected with mast cell tumour (MCT). Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed to compare tumour recurrence and tumour‐related death between patients. The log‐rank test was used to check for significant differences between curves. KIT‐I, KIT‐II and KIT‐III staining patterns were observed in 9 (11.11%), 50 (61.73%) and 22 (27.16%) tumours, respectively. Tumour recurrence rates and tumour‐related deaths were not associated with KIT staining patterns (P = 0278, P > 0.05), KIT (P = 0.289, P > 0.05) or KIT ligand (P = 0.106, P > 0.05) gene expression. Despite the lack of association between KIT staining pattern and patient survival time, the results suggest a correlation between aberrant KIT localization and increased proliferative activity of MCTs. RT‐PCR seems to be a sensible method for quantitative detection of KIT gene expression in canine MCT, although expressions levels are not correlated with prognosis.     

热激处理对甜柿外植体总酚含量和PAL、PPO、POD活性的影响

甜柿在组织培养过程中极易褐化,为了防止褐变,在培养之前应对外植体进行热激处理。文中研究了热激处理后的宝华甜柿叶片在培养过程中其酚类物质含量和苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性的变化情况,并对热激处理抑制组培褐变的生理机制进行了初步探讨。结果表明:热激处理后,宝华甜柿叶片的褐变程度比没有处理的明显减轻,其总酚含量与苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)及多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性均有所降低,但热激处理对其过氧化物酶(POD)活性的抑制效果并不明显,说明热激处理通过降低外植体的PAL及PPO活性,抑制酚类物质的合成及氧化,减少了褐变产物——醌类物质的形成,从而有效抑制了褐变现象的发生。     

The importance of riparian subtropical lucidophyllous forest to odonate conservation

1. Glossy, broad‐leaved, evergreen (lucidophyllous) forests are found mainly in humid subtropical regions of East Asia and are recognized as a biodiverse biome harbouring numerous endemic species. To date, however, few studies have considered the conservation importance of rivers draining these unique environments. In this study, lotic Odonata were used as indicators to examine factors affecting riparian forest–stream linkages in a lucidophyllous forest in south‐western Japan.
2. Lotic odonates of 10 species, including seven endemic species, and their habitats were studied along 30 stream reaches with varying environmental characteristics.
3. Odonate species richness was greatest in shadier reaches as well as in heterogeneous locations in larger streams. In contrast, larger streams modified by channel enlargement for flood control had few or no odonate species.
4. Protecting larger streams with less human impact and streams in dense riparian forest are the best options for conserving lotic odonates and their habitats in this globally unique forest type.