Effect of yeast with bacteriocin from rumen bacteria on laying performance,blood biochemistry,faecal microbiota and egg quality of laying hens

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of yeast with bacteriocin from Ruminococcus albus 7 (albusin B) on physiological state and production performance of laying hens. One hundred and twenty 26‐week‐old Single Comb White Leghorn (Hyline) laying hens were assigned into five groups including: (i) control group, (ii) yeast control (YC), (iii) 0.125% yeast with bacteriocin (0.125B), (iv) 0.25% yeast with bacteriocin (0.25B) and (v) 0.5% yeast with bacteriocin (0.5B). All supplements were added to the experimental diets of the hens from 26 to 46 weeks of age. Samples were collected every 4 weeks. Blood samples were collected from the wing vein for blood biochemical parameters assay, and faecal samples were collected by swab for the microbiota test. The egg production performance was recorded daily, and fresh eggs were collected for quality test. The blood biochemical assay results indicated that the addition of yeast with bacteriocin decreased the AST (aspartate aminotransferase) activity and it also affects the lactate concentration in laying hen blood. The result of egg quality indicated that yeast with bacteriocin supplementation had no effect on the mass of yolk and the strength of eggshell, but it had positive effect on the laying performance under hot environment. Low concentration bacteriocin (0.125B) supplementation could decrease total yolk cholesterol. The faecal microbiota result indicated that the supplementation of bacteriocin increased the lactobacilli counts. The yeast with bacteriocin supplementation significantly decreased the clostridia counts under hot environment condition, especially in hens receiving 0.25B. Combining the data from clinic chemistry, faecal microbiota, egg production and egg quality, the 0.25B supplementation may result in the best physiological parameter and egg production performance of laying hen.     

不同抚育技术对杉木幼林生长及群体结构的影响

对不同幼林抚育技术对杉木幼林生长和群体结构的影响进行定位研究 ,结果表明 :抚育技术对杉木保存率和生长有较大的影响。块状抚育和全垦抚育可提高杉木的保存率 ,而不抚育的杉木保存率则最低。树高和抽梢高基本上表现出块状抚育 >全垦抚育 >带状抚育 >劈草抚育 >不抚育 ,并且在后期更为明显 ;地径则基本上表现出全垦抚育 >块状抚育 >带状抚育 >劈草抚育 >不抚育。方差分析的结果表明抚育技术对地径的影响大于树高。多重比较表明 :除了不抚育外 ,其他 4种抚育技术均能有效地促进杉木生长 ,它们之间并没有多大的差异。块状抚育、全垦抚育、带状抚育和劈草抚育的总单株生物量分别为不抚育的 3 4 6、3 4 0、3 15和 1 11倍 ;块状抚育、全垦抚育、带状抚育、劈草抚育和不抚育的根 茎比分别为 0 1992、0 193 1、0 1673、0 3 5 75和 0 2 680。这可能是劈草抚育和不抚育的杉木对地下营养空间激烈竞争的一种适应现象。抚育技术对杉木群体树高和地径结构有一定的影响 ,尤其是对地径结构     

Temporal distribution and pathogenicity of the predominant tomato‐infecting begomoviruses in Taiwan

Between 1998 and 2009, the four tomato‐infecting begomovirus species detected in Taiwan were Ageratum yellow vein Hualien virus (AYVHuV), Tomato leaf curl Taiwan virus (ToLCTWV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (TYLCTHV) and a newly defined species Tomato leaf curl Hsinchu virus (ToLCHsV). AYVHuV was detected occasionally in 2003 and ToLCHsV only in 2000–2001, whilst ToLCTWV was detected throughout the period. TYLCTHV was first detected in 2005. Between 1998 and 2005, >99% of the begomovirus‐positive samples were infected with ToLCTWV. In 2007 in western Taiwan, 16% of the positive samples were infected with ToLCTWV, 35% with TYLCTHV and 49% with mixed infection (ToLCTWV/TYLCTHV). In contrast, in eastern Taiwan the proportions were 84% ToLCTWV, 2% TYLCTHV and 14% mixed infection. However, throughout Taiwan in 2008–2009, most positive samples were either identified as TYLCTHV (51%) or mixed infection (ToLCTWV/TYLCTHV; 41%), and only 8% were ToLCTWV. This shows a clear trend of shifting from ToLCTWV to TYLCTHV and mixed infection over a short time period in Taiwan. Sequence analyses indicated that tomato‐infecting AYVHuV, an apparent recombinant between ToLCTWV and AYVHuV from Ageratum, represents a new strain Hsinchu. TYLCTHV Taiwan isolates were highly similar to each other, whereas ToLCTWV isolates had greater diversity and were classified into three strains which had one country‐wide and two local distributions. ToLCTWV and TYLCTHV were confirmed as monopartite and bipartite begomoviruses, respectively, by agroinfection followed by transmission with Bemisia tabaci biotype B. In addition, TYLCTHV was found to be mechanically transmissible together with viral DNA‐B.     

杉木老龄林群落的种-多度关系研究

以杉木老龄林群落为研究对象,结合对数级数和对数正态分布模型,建立3 600 m2的大样地分析杉木老龄林群落的种-多度关系。结果表明:样方的平均物种数和个体数分别为6.86种和35.75株,各样方的物种数及个体数存在极显著正相关关系,说明杉木老龄林群落中生境空间对物种个体的承载能力,还未限制其物种数量。个体数-种序(p>0.05)和频度-种序(p>0.05)的分布曲线均符合对数级数分布;对数正态分布模型则能够较好拟合个体数-种序(p>0.05)的分布曲线,但频度-种序(p<0.05)的分布曲线则不适合用该模型来解释。随着尺度的增加,物种数和个体数的变异系数、二者间的相关性及物种数的方差逐步下降,个体数的方差却呈上升的趋势。     

Ursolic acid induces allograft inflammatory factor-1 expression via a nitric oxide-related mechanism and increases neovascularization

Ursolic acid (UA), a triterpenoid compound found in plants, is used in the human diet and in medicinal herbs and possesses a wide range of biological benefits including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic effects. Endothelial expression of allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) mediates vasculogenesis, and nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial NO (eNOS) represents a mechanism of vascular protection. It is unclear whether UA affects the neovascularization mediated by AIF-1 and eNOS expression. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of UA on angiogenesis in vivo in hind limb ischemic animal models and in vitro in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCECs). This study explored the impact of UA on endothelial cell (EC) activities in vitro in HCECs, vascular neovasculogenesis in vivo in a mouse hind limb ischemia model, and the possible role of AIF-1 in vasculogenesis. The results demonstrate that UA enhances collateral blood flow recovery through induction of neovascularization in a hind limb ischemia mouse model. In vitro data showed that UA increases tube formation and migration capacities in human endothelial cells, and exposing HCECs to UA increased AIF-1 expression through a NO-related mechanism. Moreover, UA administration increased capillary density and eNOS and AIF-1 expression in ischemic muscle. These findings suggest that UA may be a potential therapeutic agent in the induction of neovascularization and provide a novel mechanistic insight into the potential effects of UA on ischemic vascular diseases.     

2,2'-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging active components from adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) hulls

An activity-directed fractionation and purification process was used to identify the antioxidative components of adlay hulls. Hulls of adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) were extracted with methanol and then separated into water, 1-butanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane fractions. The 1-butanol-soluble fraction exhibited greater capacity to scavenge 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals when compared with fractions soluble in water, ethyl acetate, and hexane phases. The 1-butanol fraction was then subjected to separation and purification using Diaion HP-20 chromatography, silica gel chromatography, and HPLC. Six compounds showing strong antioxidant activity were identified by spectroscopic methods ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, IR, and MS) and by comparison with authentic samples to be coniferyl alcohol (1), syringic acid (2), ferulic acid (3), syringaresinol (4), 4-ketopinoresinol (5), and a new lignan, mayuenolide (6).     

In vitro inhibition of the activation of Pro-matrix Metalloproteinase 1 (Pro-MMP-1) and Pro-matrix metalloproteinase 9 (Pro-MMP-9) by rice and soybean Bowman-Birk inhibitors

The in vitro inhibitory activity of the rice Bowman-Birk inhibitor (rBBI) or soybean Bowman-Birk inhibitor (sBBI) against trypsin-catalyzed activation of pro-matrix metalloproteinase 1 or 9 (pro-MMP-1 or pro-MMP-9), respectively, was investigated using electrophoresis with silver staining, heparin-enhanced zymography, biotinylated gelatin, Biotrak assay, and fluorescence quenched substrate hydrolysis. rBBI at concentrations of 0.08-0.352 mg/mL dose-dependently inhibited the in vitro activation of 45 microg/mL pro-MMP-1 by trypsin. Heparin-enhanced zymography analysis of pro-MMP-1, trypsin-activated MMP-1, and a mixture of pro-MMP-1-trypsin-rBBI showed clear zones associated with trypsin-activated MMP-1 and the absence of clear zones in lanes containing pro-MMP-1 or a mixture of pro-MMP-1, trypsin, and rBBI. The results of the Biotrak assay also indicated that rBBI dose-dependently suppressed the activation of pro-MMP-1 by trypsin. sBBI dose-dependently inhibited the activation of 100 microg/mL of pro-MMP-9 by trypsin. Biotinylated gelatin assays demonstrated that pro-MMP-9 or pro-MMP-9 in the presence of trypsin and BBI did not hydrolyze gelatin, whereas p-aminophenylmercury acetate (APMA)-activated MMP-9 and trypsin-activated MMP-9 caused significant hydrolysis of gelatin. Quenched fluorescence substrate hydrolysis for total MMP activity showed that pro-MMP-1 or pro-MMP-9 did not hydrolyze the substrate Mca-Pro-Leu-Gly-Leu-Dpa-Ala-Arg-NH2; active MMP-1 or MMP-9 hydrolyzed the substrate, but lower substrate hydrolysis was obtained when pro-MMP-1 or pro-MMP-9 was incubated with trypsin in the presence of increasing concentrations of rBBI. The results are discussed in light of the role of MMP-1 and MMP-9 in the process of angiogenesis and the potential of rBBI or sBBI as a functional food ingredient.     

Chemoinhibitory effect of mulberry anthocyanins on melanoma metastasis involved in the Ras/PI3K pathway

Anthocyanins richly exist in mulberry plants and have been well characterized to have various bioactive properties. However, the antimetastasis properties of mulberry anthocyanins (MACs) remain unclear. The objectives of this study were to investigate the inhibitory effects of MACs on the metastasis of B16-F1 cells under noncytotoxic concentrations. Further investigation revealed that the antimetastatic effect of MACs was also evident in a C57BL/6 mice model. First, MACs exhibited an inhibitory effect on the migration ability by wound healing assay and Boyden chamber assay. In the cancer cell metastasis process, matrix degrading proteinases are required. B16-F1 cells treated with MACs at various concentrations showed reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) proteinases including matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) by gelatin zymography assay. The results of the Western blotting assay demonstrated that the expression levels of Ras, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phospho-Akt, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the MACs-treated B16-F1 cells were reduced. Therefore, it was suggested that MACs could mediate B16-F1 cell metastasis by reduction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities involving the suppression of the Ras/PI3K signaling pathway. Besides, B16-F1 melanoma cells were also injected into the right groin of the C57BL/6 mice, and the mice were fed with MACs at the same time. The hematoxylin-eosin stain (H&E stain) and immunohistochemistry stain showed that the MACs inhibited the mtastasis of B16-F1 cells in vivo. Taken together, the findings proved the inhibitory effect of MACs on the growth and metastasis of B16-F1 cells. These results indicated that MACs might be offered for future application as an antimetastatic agent.