Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Arcobacter species isolated from poultry meat in Iran

1. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Arcobacter spp. isolated from different species of retail poultry meat in Iran.

2. From August 2012 to April 2013, a total of 540 raw poultry meat samples from chicken (n = 100), turkey (n = 100), quail (n = 100), partridge (n = 80), duck (n = 50), ostrich (n = 60) and geese (n = 50) were purchased from randomly selected retail outlets in Shahrekord, Isfahan, Sari and Rasht, Iran.

3. Using culture techniques, 71 of 540 poultry meat samples (13.1%) were positive for Arcobacter spp. The highest prevalence of Arcobacter spp. was found in chicken meat (28.0%), followed by quail (12.0%), duck (11.4%), turkey (11.0%), geese (8.0%), partridge (7.5%) and ostrich (3.3%) meat. The number of A. butzleri isolated from poultry meat samples (90.1%) was significantly higher than A. cryaerophilus (7.1%) and A. skirrowii (2.8%). Significantly more poultry meat samples were found to contain Arcobacter spp. by the PCR assay than by the culture method.

4. Susceptibilities of Arcobacter isolates were determined for 14 antimicrobial drugs using the disk diffusion method. All of the 71 Arcobacter isolates tested were resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents. Resistance to cephalothin and vancomycin (95.8%) was the most common finding, followed by resistance to methicillin, azithromycin and ampicillin. All Arcobacter isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, streptomycin, tetracyclin and kanamycin.

5. The results of this study indicated the importance of poultry meat, especially chicken meat, as potential sources of Arcobacter spp. infection in people. Furthermore, the strains indicated resistance to a broad spectrum of antibiotics.     

The impact of land afforestation on carbon stocks surrounding Tehran,Iran

The city of Tehran,like many polluted metropolises of the world,has higher emissions of greenhouse gases than other cities in Iran,due to heavy consumption of fossil fuel and landuse changes.To estimate carbon sequestration in two 40 year-old stands of planted Cupressus arizonica and Fraxinus rotundifolia in degraded lands surrounding Tehran,sampling of above-and below-ground biomass,soil(at two depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm),and leaf litter was done by systematic random sampling.The total carbon stocks of C.arizonica and F.rotundifolia stands were respectively 328.20 and 150.69 Mg·ha-1.The aboveground biomass with 233.16(71%)Mg·ha-1 in C.arizonica and88.16(58.50%)Mg·ha-1 in F.rotundifolia contributed the most shares to carbon sequestration.The diameter at breast height,total height,basal area,total volume,and biomass of C.arizonica were significantly(p0.01)higher than those of F.rotundifolia.Also the depth of 0-30 cm of soil contributed between 18.29%and 32.15%of total ecosystem carbon,respectively.The economic value of carbon sequestration in the two stands in 2011 was calculated at 3.5 and 2.5 million dollars,respectively.Our results indicate that afforestation of the degraded land surrounding Tehran would sequester more carbon than would continuously degraded land,the current status quo.These stands can absorb atmospheric CO2 at different rates,thus tree species selection and stand development should be considered in planning future afforestation projects.     

Growth performance,haematology, antioxidant status,immune response and histology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fed biofloc grown on different carbon sources

A 10 weeks trial was performed to investigate how different carbon sources (sugar beet molasses: SBM+BFT, sugar: S+BFT, corn starch: CS+BFT) along with control affect welfare status of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings in biofloc‐based tanks. Three hundred healthy fingerlings (22.5 ± 0.2 g) were randomly distributed in 12 tanks (70 L) at a density of 8.02 kg/m³ (25 fish/tank). The fish in BFT treatments fed only 75% feeding rate of control. At the end of the experiment no differences were seen between the groups in case of growth performance, but the fish reared in CS+BFT had a significant lower food conversion ratio compared with the others (p < .05). Different carbon sources did not affect on haematological parameters (p > .05). Total serum protein and antibody concentration differed in treatments, and the highest values were found in S+BFT and CS+BFT treatments (p < .05). No significant differences were observed in case of lysozyme, superoxide dismutase and complement activity in treatments (p > .05), whereas the fish in BFT treatments showed a significant higher total antioxidant capacity and lower glutathione peroxidase than the control (p < .05). Different carbon sources resulted in no change in goblet and kupffer cells in intestine and liver respectively. The highest relative percentage survival was obtained in the CS+BFT and S+BFT (50%) in comparison with SBM+BFT (20%) treatment. The results obtained in this experiment, suggest that corn starch improves immune response, diseases resistance and histology of digestive and respiratory systems in carp fingerlings when used as a carbon source in zero water exchange system.     

Sustainability assessment of potato fields using the DEXi decision support system in Hamadan Province,Iran

Potato is a staple food crop and the most important agricultural commodity, which critically affects food security and economic stability in Hamadan Province, Iran. Ex-ante sustainability appraisal of new cropping systems and their comparisons with conventional systems can increase the efficiencies of innovations and changes within the production process. This study aimed to explore the sustainability levels of potato cropping systems in Hamadan Province, Iran. To this end, DEXi methodology was developed for the sustainability assessment of the cropping systems. For assessing the three dimensions of environmental, economic, and social sustainability in the four systems of traditional potato system (TPS), Quasi-industrial potato system (QIPS), industrial potato system (IPS), and government-promoted potato system (GPPS), five groups of features were utilized: (1) irrigation method; (2) seed placement; (3) farm machinery use; (4) agrochemical use; and (5) rotation. The impact assessments of the cropping systems were based on two, three, and two groups of ecological, social, and economic indicators, respectively. Employment, supply chain, protection, operational difficulty, productivity, profitability, input use, and biodiversity resulted in 21 basic indicators and 13 aggregated indicators, by which the cropping systems were described. The results revealed that GPPS with distinctive economic and social profiles could have a better overall sustainability despite the fact that some indicators like biodiversity could be negatively affected. Finally, three strategies were recommended for the sustainability of GPPS as follows: biodiversity enhancement, input substitution, and integrated water management.     

Growth response,body composition and fatty acid profile of Caspian brown trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo trutta Caspius</Emphasis>) juvenile fed diets containing different levels of soybean phosphatidylcholine

We investigated the effects of soybean phosphatidylcholine (PtCho) on the growth, fatty acid (FA) profile, and body composition of juvenile Caspian brown trout. Juvenile trout, initial average weight 0.8 ± 0.12 g, were fed semi-purified formulated diets supplemented with 2, 4, and 6% PtCho for 5 weeks. Results showed that fish with diets containing 4 or 6% PtCho had significantly greater growth. The FA profiles of both the polar lipids (PL) and neutral lipids (NL) in juvenile tissues were influenced by dietary FA, although the effects of PtCho supplementation were more marked for PL than for NL. Fish fed PtCho in the diet also had higher levels of 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6 and n-6, and significantly lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in both PL and NL. The lipid contents of whole-body tissues and liver were positively affected by PtCho percentage in the diet. Specific growth rate, hepatosomatic index, visceralsomatic index, and protein efficiency ratio were also significantly influenced by dietary PtCho. The results of our study indicate that dietary PtCho has a growth-promoting effect and that juvenile Caspian brown trout have a relatively moderate PtCho requirement (at least 4% dry weight of the diet).     

Evaluation of Plasticizing and Antioxidant Properties of Silver Carp Protein Hydrolysates in Fish Gelatin Film

Physico-mechanical and antioxidant properties of glycerol plasticized fish gelatin films were investigated at different levels of fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) from silver carp muscle (5, 10, 15, and 20 g FPH/100 g gelatin). The films supplemented with FPH, especially at higher concentration showed significant increase in 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 20-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfnic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), elongation at break, difference of color, water vapor permeability and opacity, while tensile strength, elastic modulus, L*, b*, and contact angle decreased markedly (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed for a* and solubility of all samples (p > 0.05). Films prepared using 20% FPH had lower glass transition temperature and more homogeneous structure, compared with control film. Also, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the increase of free groups of hydrolysates and lower interaction between chains of film incorporated with the highest content of FPH. Thus, these results indicate that FPH enhanced the antioxidant activities and affected some characteristics due to less interaction between gelatin and FPH.     

Relationship Between Degree of Starch Gelatinization and Quality Attributes of Parboiled Rice During Steaming

Paddy rice samples were parboiled by soaking at 65 °C for 180 min and steaming at 96 °C for 2–10 min, and then dried to achieve the final moisture content of 11% ± 1%. The degree of starch gelatinization(DSG) and several quality attributes(head rice yield(HRY), color value and hardness) of parboiled rice were measured. Results showed that DSG(46.8%–77.9%), color value(18.08–19.04) and hardness(118.6–219.2 N) all increased following steaming. In contrast, the HRY increased(64.8%–67.1%) for steaming times between 2–4 min but decreased(67.1%–65.0%) for steaming times between 4–10 min. Linear relations between DSG and color value(R~2 = 0.87), and DSG and hardness(R~2 = 0.88) were observed. The suitable DSG of parboiled rice leading to the highest HRY was found to be 62.5%, obtained following 4 min of steaming.     

Comparative Study of Immunological and Structural Properties of Two Recombinant Vaccine Candidates against Botulinum Neurotoxin Type E

Background

Recently, botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT)-derived recombinant proteins have been suggested as potential botulism vaccines. Here, with concentrating on BoNT type E (BoNT/E), we studied two of these binding domain-based recombinant proteins: a multivalent chimer protein, which is composed of BoNT serotypes A, B and E binding subdomains, and a monovalent recombinant protein, which contains 93 amino acid residues from recombinant C-terminal heavy chain of BoNT/E (rBoNT/E-HCC). Both proteins have an identical region (48 aa) that contains one of the most important BoNT/E epitopes (YLTHMRD sequence).

Methods

The recombinant protein efficiency in antibody production, their structural differences, and their BoNT/E-epitope location were compared by using ELISA, circular dichroism, computational modeling, and hydrophobicity predictions.

Results

Immunological studies indicated that the antibody yield against rBoNT/E-HCC was higher than chimer protein. Cross ELISA confirmed that the antibodies against the chimer protein recognized rBoNT/E-HCC more efficiently. However, both antibody groups (anti-chimer and anti-rBoNT/E-HCC antibodies) were able to recognize other proteins. Structural studies with circular dichroism showed that chimer proteins have slightly more secondary structures than rBoNT/E-HCC.

Conclusion

The immunological results suggested that the above-mentioned identical region in rBoNT/E-HCC is more exposed. Circular dichroism, computational protein modeling and hydrophobicity predictions indicated a more exposed location for the identical region in rBoNT/E-HCC than the chimer protein, which is strongly in agreement with immunological results. Iran. Biomed. Key Words: Botulinum neurotoxin type E (BoNT/E), Cross ELISA, circular dichroism, Computational modeling, recombinant vaccine-candidates     

Pullularins E and F, two new peptides from the endophytic fungus Bionectria ochroleuca isolated from the mangrove plant Sonneratia caseolaris

Chemical investigation of the EtOAc extract of the endophytic fungus Bionectria ochroleuca, isolated from the inner leaf tissues of the plant Sonneratia caseolaris (Sonneratiaceae) from Hainan island (China), yielded two new peptides, pullularins E and F (1 and 2) together with three known compounds (3–5). The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously determined on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy as well as by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The absolute configurations of amino acids were determined by HPLC analysis of acid hydrolysates using Marfey’s method. The isolated compounds exhibited pronounced to moderate cytotoxic activity against the mouse lymphoma cells (L5178Y) with EC₅₀ values ranging between 0.1 and 6.7 µg/mL.     

Araguspongine C Induces Autophagic Death in Breast Cancer Cells through Suppression of c-Met and HER2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling

Receptor tyrosine kinases are key regulators of cellular growth and proliferation. Dysregulations of receptor tyrosine kinases in cancer cells may promote tumorigenesis by multiple mechanisms including enhanced cell survival and inhibition of cell death. Araguspongines represent a group of macrocyclic oxaquinolizidine alkaloids isolated from the marine sponge Xestospongia species. This study evaluated the anticancer activity of the known oxaquinolizidine alkaloids araguspongines A, C, K and L, and xestospongin B against breast cancer cells. Araguspongine C inhibited the proliferation of multiple breast cancer cell lines in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, araguspongine C-induced autophagic cell death in HER2-overexpressing BT-474 breast cancer cells was characterized by vacuole formation and upregulation of autophagy markers including LC3A/B, Atg3, Atg7, and Atg16L. Araguspongine C-induced autophagy was associated with suppression of c-Met and HER2 receptor tyrosine kinase activation. Further in-silico docking studies and cell-free Z-LYTE assays indicated the potential of direct interaction between araguspongine C and the receptor tyrosine kinases c-Met and HER2 at their kinase domains. Remarkably, araguspongine C treatment resulted in the suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling cascade in breast cancer cells undergoing autophagy. Induction of autophagic death in BT-474 cells was also associated with decreased levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor upon treatment with effective concentration of araguspongine C. In conclusion, results of this study are the first to reveal the potential of araguspongine C as an inhibitor to receptor tyrosine kinases resulting in the induction of autophagic cell death in breast cancer cells.