Discovery of lunasin peptide in triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack)

Lunasin is a novel, cancer-preventive, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-reducing peptide that was originally isolated from soy and later from barley, wheat and rye. We report the first discovery of lunasin in triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack). Moreover, we report first data of lunasin content in winter rye and wheat genotypes grown in Northern Europe. These data are novel as previously published data on finding of lunasin in cereals were obtained in genotypes grown in Korea. Lunasin content was uncovered using a previously published procedure for isolation from cereals and identified by LC-MS/MS assay. We found that triticale was the most lunasin-rich cereal, with the tested genotypes displaying the following trend in lunasin content: genotype 0002-26 > Dinaro > DSGU 10/94 > 0213-22 > 0317-14 > 0006-31. The greatest lunasin content was 6.46 mg/g in the grain of triticale genotype 0002-26. In comparison, the highest lunasin content in rye variety Dankovske Diament was 1.5 mg/g, and the highest lunasin content in the winter wheat variety Fredis was 0.23 mg/g. We conclude that triticale can play a significant role as functional food, with great potential for the use of triticale products in human and animal diets.     

Macroalgal meadow habitats support fish and fisheries in diverse tropical seascapes

Canopy‐forming macroalgae can construct extensive meadow habitats in tropical seascapes occupied by fishes that span a diversity of taxa, life‐history stages and ecological roles. Our synthesis assessed whether these tropical macroalgal habitats have unique fish assemblages, provide fish nurseries and support local fisheries. We also applied a meta‐analysis of independent surveys across 23 tropical reef locations in 11 countries to examine how macroalgal canopy condition is related to the abundance of macroalgal‐associated fishes. Over 627 fish species were documented in tropical macroalgal meadows, with 218 of these taxa exhibiting higher local abundance within this habitat (cf. nearby coral reef) during at least one life‐history stage. Major overlap (40%–43%) in local fish species richness among macroalgal and seagrass or coral reef habitats suggest macroalgal meadows may provide an important habitat refuge. Moreover, the prominence of juvenile fishes suggests macroalgal meadows facilitate the triphasic life cycle of many fishes occupying diverse tropical seascapes. Correlations between macroalgal canopy structure and juvenile abundance suggests macroalgal habitat condition can influence levels of replenishment in tropical fish populations, including the majority of macroalgal‐associated fishes that are targeted by commercial, subsistence or recreational fisheries. While many macroalgal‐associated fishery species are of minor commercial value, their local importance for food and livelihood security can be substantial (e.g. up to 60% of landings in Kenyan reef fisheries). Given that macroalgal canopy condition can vary substantially with sea temperature, there is a high likelihood that climate change will impact macroalgal‐associated fish and fisheries.     

Prediction of total phenols,condensed tannins,and 3-deoxyanthocyanidins in sorghum grain using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy

The reported high phenolic levels in sorghum have led an interest from sorghum breeding programs in developing and identifying germplasms with high phenolic levels, which require screening a large number of samples to find those with the highest levels. Since wet chemistry screening methods are slow, expensive, and destructive, the use of NIR calibration curves could be an alternative. The objectives of this project were to determine the variation range in total phenols, condensed tannins, and 3-deoxyanthocyanidin levels in a diverse set of sorghum genotypes and to assess the predictive value of NIR curves to estimate these compounds in sorghum. A calibration curve to estimate each compound was developed and validated with an independent validation set. Calibration curve correlations for total phenols, condensed tannins, and 3-deoxyanthocyanidins were r = 0.98, 0.97, and 0.99, respectively. Correlations between NIR-predicted values and reference values in the validation set were significant for total phenols (r = 0.93), condensed tannins (r = 0.81) and 3-deoxyanthocyanidin (r = 0.82). These indicated that sufficient variation for these compounds existed within sorghum and that NIR calibration curves could be used to rapidly and non-destructively predict total phenols, condensed tannins, and 3-deoxyanthocyanidins concentrations in whole grain sorghum.     

Lactic acid bacterial colonization and human rotavirus infection influence distribution and frequencies of monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells in neonatal gnotobiotic pigs

Despite accumulating knowledge of porcine macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) from in vitro studies, information regarding monocytes/macrophages and DCs in lymphoid tissues of enteric pathogen-infected neonatal animals in vivo is limited. In this study we evaluated the influence of commensal bacterial [two strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. reuteri] colonization and rotavirus infection on distribution and frequencies of monocytes/macrophages and conventional DCs (cDCs) in ileum, spleen and blood. Gnotobiotic pigs were inoculated with LAB and virulent Wa strain human rotavirus (HRV) (LAB+HRV+), HRV only (LAB-HRV+), LAB only (LAB+HRV-) or mock (LAB-HRV-). The cDCs were characterized as SWC3(+)CD11R1(+), whereas monocytes/macrophages were identified as SWC3(+)CD11R1(-) by flow cytometry in the gnotobiotic pigs at 10 days of age. Infection with HRV alone activated/recruited significantly more monocytes/macrophages to the intestine than LAB colonization and 56% versus 28% of these cells expressed CD14. Colonization with LAB alone also significantly increased the frequencies of monocytes/macrophages and cDCs and the CD14 expression on monocytes/macrophages in ileum and spleen compared to the controls. LAB colonization plus HRV infection significantly reduced macrophage and cDC frequencies in spleen compared to LAB colonization or HRV infection alone, suggesting that LAB colonization down-regulated HRV- infection-induced monocyte/macrophage activation/recruitment at the systemic lymphoid tissue. These results illustrated the distribution of porcine monocytes/macrophages and cDCs and the frequencies of CD14 expression on these cells in intestinal and systemic lymphoid tissues in the early stage of immune responses to intestinal colonization by LAB versus infection by an enteric pathogen HRV and will facilitate further in vivo studies on functional characterization of these immune cells in neonates.     

Ferret hematology and related disorders

This article summarizes the general topic of ferret hematology, including discussion of restraint for phlebotomy and phlebotomy sites, red and white blood cell morphology, interpretation of the hemogram, and normal and abnormal factors affecting the hemogram. In addition, the apparent lack of blood groups and techniques for bone marrow aspirates and blood transfusion are addressed. There is much still to be learned about the ferret and its diseases. We often depend on tests as simple as the complete blood cell count to help guide us in our diagnosis and treatments of this patient.     

The potential role of wild and feral animals as reservoirs of foot-and-mouth disease

We investigated the potential role of feral pigs and wild deer as FMD reservoirs with a susceptible-latent-infected-recovered geographic-automata model, using spatially referenced data from southern Texas, USA. An uncontrolled FMD outbreak initiated in feral pigs and in wild deer might infect up to 698 (90% prediction interval 181, 1387) and 1557 (823, 2118) cattle and affect an area of 166 km(2) (53, 306) and 455 km(2) (301, 588), respectively. The predicted spread of FMD virus infection was influenced by assumptions we made regarding the number of incursion sites and the number of neighborhood interactions between herds. Our approach explicitly incorporates the spatial relationships between domesticated and non-domesticated animal populations, providing a new framework to explore the impacts, costs, and strategies for the control of foreign animal diseases with a potential wildlife reservoir.