Equol,a Blood–Brain Barrier Permeable Gut Microbial Metabolite of Dietary Isoflavone Daidzein,Exhibits Neuroprotective Effects against Neurotoxins Induced Toxicity in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells and Caenorhabditis elegans

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Emerging data support that plant food based isoflavones have ameliorating effects on a variety of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease...     

Effects of the fungal endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in fescue on pregnant mares and foal viability.

Effects of the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue on pregnant mares and foal viability were evaluated. Twenty-two mature pregnant mares were randomly chosen to graze either Kentucky-31 tall fescue that was free from A coenophialum (endophyte-free, EF) or tall fescue infected with A coenophialum (endophyte-present, EP) after the first 90 days of pregnancy through parturition. Concentrations of pyrrolizidine and ergopeptine alkaloids were significantly greater in EP grass, compared with EF pasture. Ten of 11 mares grazing EP pasture had obvious dystocia. Mean duration of gestation was significantly greater for the EP group, compared with the EF group. Foal survivability was severely reduced among mares grazing EP fescue with only 1 foal surviving the natal period. Udder development and lactation were low in mares grazing EP grass. The absence of clinical problems in mares grazing EF grass implicated the endophyte as the causative agent of reproductive problems and perinatal foal mortality in pregnant mares grazing endophyte-infected fescue grass. Caution should be exercised in allowing pregnant mares to graze pastures infected with the endophyte A coenophialum.     

Immune responses and host protection of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis after immunization with live theronts and sonicated trophonts

The humoral immune responses and host protection of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) were determined after immunization with live theronts and sonicated trophonts. Immunizations with live theronts or sonicated trophonts were carried out by both bath immersion and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Cutaneous and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and anti-Ich antibodies were measured 12 and 21 days post-immunization. The level of Ich infection and survival of catfish were determined after theront challenge. Cutaneous and serum anti-Ich antibodies were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in fish immunized with live theronts by immersion or i.p. injection, or with sonicated trophonts administered by i.p. injection, than in fish immunized with sonicated trophonts by immersion, with bovine serum albumin by i.p. injection, or non-immunized controls. Host protection was noted only in fish immunized with live theronts by immersion or i.p. injection or with sonicated trophonts by i.p. injection. There was a positive correlation between higher levels of anti-Ich antibodies and host survival in the immunized fish.     

Effects of Yeast Oligosaccharide Diet Supplements on Growth and Disease Resistance in Juvenile Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Commercially available yeast and yeast subcomponents consisting mainly of β-glucan or oligosaccharide feed additives were added to diets of juvenile (12–18g) Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) at rates recommended by suppliers. Three experiments were conducted following a basic protocol with varied rates of supplementation, duration of feeding, and stocking densities. Experimental diets were fed twice daily to apparent satiation for a period of two or four weeks, at the end of which feed consumption and weight gain were measured. Following the experimental feeding period, serum components, including protein and immunoglobulin concentrations, as well as lysozyme and complement activities, were measured. A disease challenge was conducted with pathogenic isolates of Streptococcus iniae or Edwardsiella tarda. Weight gains were not significantly different in fish fed the supplemented diets when compared to the control diet. There were significant differences in fed intake within individual experiments; however, this effect was not consistent in all three experiments. Overall feed efficiency was not significantly affected by diet. There were no differences in serum components of fish sampled at two or four weeks. Fish fed the experimental diets did not have lower mortality or morbidity after disease challenge compared to fish fed the control diets. Specific antibody against S. iniae or E. tarda measured by ELISA did not reveal differences in the fish surviving the challenge. We conclude that the incorporation of these commercial yeast component products into the diet of juvenile Nile tilapia at these rates and for these feeding periods had no effect on growth, serum components, antibody responses, or survival following S. iniae or E. tarda infection.