Administration of Probiotic Strain to Improve Sea Bream Wellness during Development

Two bacterial strains Lactobacillus fructivorans (AS17B), isolated from adult sea bream (Sparus aurata) gut, and Lactobacillus plantarum (906), isolated from human faeces, were administered contemporaneously, during sea bream development using Brachionus plicatilis and/or Artemia salina and dry feed as vectors. The probiotic treatment influenced gut colonization: at 35 days post-hatching (p.h.) L. fructivorans was not present in the gut, but the treatment induced colonization by L. plantarum. At 66 days p.h., L. fructivorans was evident also in the control; moreover, when suitable environmental conditions appeared in the post-metamorphosis gastro-intestinal tract, competition between L. plantarum and L. fructivorans occurred. At 90 days p.h., L. plantarum was displaced by L. fructivorans that became significantly higher with respect to the control. In treated groups, probiotic administration significantly decreased larvae and fry mortality.     

Toxicity nanoinsecticide based on clove essential oil against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

This study aimed to characterize nanoparticles loaded with clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil-based polyethylene glycol (PEG) and to know their insecticidal activity against red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). The nanoparticles have irregular shapes in good dispersion. The nanoformulation could not enhance clove oil contact toxicity to T. castaneum, but could protect the oil from degradation and evaporation while simultaneously allowing sustained release, as indicated by the continued high toxicity for 16 weeks of storage.     

Effects of hemolysis, lipemia, hyperbilirrubinemia, and anticoagulants in canine C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, and ceruloplasmin assays

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects that hemolysis, lipemia, bilirubinemia, and anticoagulants might have on the most commonly used assays for C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A, and determination of ceruloplasmin values in dogs. Solutions of hemoglobin, lipid, and bilirubin were added to serum aliquots. Additionally, serum and plasma samples with different anticoagulants (heparin, EDTA, and citrate) were obtained from healthy dogs. Hemolysis, lipemia, and hyperbilirubinemia interfered significantly with the C-reactive protein and ceruloplasmin results, but not with those for the serum amyloid A assay. The use of anticoagulants produced significant changes in the results for the assays tested. However, the magnitude of the differences caused by the interfering substances does not appear to have an important impact on the clinical interpretation of the tests.     

Live microbial feed supplement in aquaculture for improvement of stress tolerance

Two bacterial strains, Lactobacillus fructivorans, isolated from sea bream (Sparus aurata) gut, and Lactobacillus plantarum, isolated from human faeces, were administered simultaneously, during sea bream development, using Brachionus plicatilis and/or Artemia salina as vectors. The probiotic treatment significantly affected gut colonization. To test the probiotic influence on stress responsiveness, sea bream fry, 47 days post-hatching (p.h.), were subjected to pH stress (from 8.6 to 6.3) and cumulative mortality, cortisol levels and HSP70 gene expression were analysed. Cortisol was selected, since under stress conditions its level increases. HSP70 was selected with consideration of its wide involvement in response to a great number of injuries, and because it protects cells probably by binding and refolding damaged proteins. The results obtained indicated that the administration of probiotic to sea bream fry induced higher HSP70 levels, indicating a greater potentiality to respond to the harmful conditions possibly present in fish farms. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the levels of cortisol found were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in both groups under probiotic treatment. When pH was used as a stressor, it induced a higher cumulative mortality in the control; the mortality was found to be significantly lower in both treated groups. Interestingly, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in HSP70 gene expression was observed in all stressed groups. These results suggest an improvement in tolerance to acute stress of fry fed with probiotics.     

A molecular elevator

We report the incrementally staged design, synthesis, characterization, and operation of a molecular machine that behaves like a nanoscale elevator. The operation of this device, which is made of a platformlike component interlocked with a trifurcated riglike component and is only 3.5 nanometers by 2.5 nanometers in size, relies on the integration of several structural and functional molecular subunits. This molecular elevator is considerably more complex and better organized than previously reported artificial molecular machines. It exhibits a clear-cut on-off reversible behavior, and it could develop forces up to around 200 piconewtons.     

Acute phase protein concentrations in retired racing Greyhounds

Background: Retired racing Greyhounds are popular as pets. Greyhounds have several differences in physiological values compared with other breeds, including lower serum α‐ and β‐globulin concentrations. We hypothesized that lower acute phase protein (APP) concentrations could contribute to lower α‐ and β‐globulin concentrations in this breed. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare serum concentrations of several APPs in Greyhounds with those of other dog breeds. Methods: We measured the serum concentrations of C‐reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), acid‐soluble glycoprotein (ASG), ceruloplasmin (CP), and serum amyloid A (SAA) in 15 clinically healthy retired racing Greyhounds and 11 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy nonGreyhound controls using previously validated methods. Results were compared by Student's t‐tests. Results: The concentration of Hp by both colorimetric and immunoturbidimetric methods was significantly lower in Greyhounds than in nonGreyhound dogs (P=.0009 and .019, respectively). The concentration of ASG was also significantly (P=.007) lower in Greyhounds, but CRP and CP concentrations were not significantly different between groups. SAA concentration was below the detection limit of the method in all dogs. Conclusions: The low serum concentrations of Hp and ASG should be taken into consideration when interpreting APP results in Greyhounds. Because both Hp and some ASG migrate in the α‐globulin fraction, these results may explain the low α‐globulin concentrations in Greyhounds.