Suppression of Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes and their Encoding Genes in Button Mushrooms (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agaricus bisporus</Emphasis>) by CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Citric Acid

Fresh button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) were harvested and treated with a solution of 1.5% CaCl₂ + 0.5% citric acid and stored for 16 days at 12 °C. The effects of this treatment on firmness, weight, color, cell wall compositions (cellulose and chitin) and cell wall degrading enzymes (cel1ulase, beta-1, 3 glucanase, chitinase and phenylalanine ammonialyase) were investigated during post-harvest storage. The expressions of major genes (Cel1, Glu1, Chi1 and PAL1) involved in cell wall degradation during post-harvest storage were also monitored. The results revealed that the post-harvest chemical treatment maintained better firmness, weight, color and inhibited cellulase, beta-1, 3 glucanase, chitinase and phenylalanine ammonialyase activities. These findings showed that the down-regulation of cell wall degrading enzymes is a possible mechanism that delays the softening of button mushrooms by the application of combined chemical treatment.     

Tillage practices improve rice yield and soil phosphorus fractions in two typical paddy soils

Journal of Soils and Sediments - This research was undertaken (I) to evaluate the status of phosphorus fractions in paddy soils in response to different tillage management practices under different...     

Elucidate Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Cultivars Using IRAP and REMAP Markers

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure in bread wheat is an essential step in their conservation, utilization, and breeding....     

Conditioning time and sodium bentonite affect pellet quality,growth performance,nutrient retention and intestinal morphology of growing broiler chickens

ABSTRACT

1. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of conditioning times and processed sodium bentonite (PSB)-based pellet binder (G. Bind?) on pellet quality, performance, small intestine morphology, and nutrient retention in growing broiler chickens (d 11–24).

2. A total of 540, one-day-old male broiler chicks were fed a commercial starter diet (d 1–10). On day 11, birds were assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement including two conditioning times (2 and 4 min) and three levels of PSB (0, 7.5 and 15 g/kg) with six replicates of 15 chicks each. Feed intake and weight gain were recorded to calculate growth performance. The jejunal segment and excreta samples were collected to determine intestinal morphology and nutrient retention, respectively.

3. Diets produced with 2 min conditioning time and containing 15 g/kg PSB increased (P < 0.05) pellet durability index and hardness. Conditioning time and PSB levels had no significant effect on growth performance. The inclusion of PSB to broilers diet increased (P < 0.05) energy usage of the pelleting machine. Chickens fed the diet conditioned for 2 min and containing 15 g/kg PSB had the lowest (P < 0.05) relative jejunal length. Two minutes conditioning of diets containing 15 g/kg PSB increased (P < 0.05) apparent metabolisable energy retention in broilers.

4. It was concluded that 2 min conditioning of diet containing 15 g/kg PSB improved pellet quality and nutrient retention of broiler chickens, while the main effects of conditioning time and PSB levels were controversial in most evaluated parameters.     

The distribution of important sero-complexes of flaviviruses in Malaysia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Flaviviruses (FVs) are arthropod-borne viruses of medical and veterinary importance. Numerous species of FVs have been isolated from various host; mainly...     

Genome analysis of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from pigs: Detection of the clonal lineage ST398 in Cameroon and South Africa

Food animals are considered reservoirs of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and are implicated in their zoonotic transmission in the farm‐to‐plate continuum. LA‐MRSA has been reported as a zoonotic agent that has the potential to spread to humans and may cause infections in at‐risk groups. In this study, whole genome sequencing was used to describe the genetic environment (resistance mechanisms, virulence factors and mobile genetic elements) and investigate the genetic lineages of MRSA isolates from pigs in Cameroonian and South African abattoirs. During March–October 2016, 288 nasal and rectal pooled samples from 432 pigs as well as nasal and hand swabs from 82 humans were collected. Genomic DNA was sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform. Generated reads were de novo‐assembled using the Qiagen CLC Genomics Workbench and SPAdes. The assembled contigs were annotated, and antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, plasmids, SCCmec and phage elements were identified with ResFinder, Virulence Finder, PlasmidFinder, SCCmec Finder and PHAST, respectively. Core genome single nucleotide analysis was undertaken to assess clonal relatedness among isolates. A lower MRSA prevalence was observed in pigs in Cameroon (n = 1/13; 0.07%) compared with South Africa (n = 4/22; 18.18%), and none of the workers were colonized by MRSA. Genome analysis identified various antibiotic resistance genes along with six virulence factors in all isolates. All MRSA isolates belonged to the clonal lineage ST398 (spa‐type t011) and harboured the type Vc SCCmec and several plasmids. Our study shows that the livestock‐associated MRSA clonal lineage ST398 is already present in both Cameroon and South Africa and is probably underestimated in the absence of molecular epidemiological studies. It reveals the serious food safety and public health threat associated with this animal strain and underscores the need for interventions to contain this resistant clone.     

The effects of growth factors on proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells from Guangxi Bama mini‐pig

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different growth factors on the proliferation of Bama mini‐pig spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro. The growth factors glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), GDNF family receptor alpha‐1 (GFRα1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were investigated. The SSCs were seeded on SIM mouse embryo‐derived thioguanine‐ and ouabain‐resistant (STO) feeder layers. Cultivation of the cells were subjected to a factorial design of the growth factors GDNF + bFGF, GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1, LIF + bFGF and LIF + bFGF + GFRα1. The SSCs could propagate for 25 passages in the medium adding GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1, 22 passages in the medium adding GDNF + bFGF, 6 passages in the medium adding LIF + bFGF, or LIF + bFGF + GFRα1. qRT‐PCR analysis showed that the highest mRNA expression levels of NANOG, POU5F, DDX4, GFRα1 and UCHL1 were detected in the group adding GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1. The SSCs from the group adding GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1 also showed UCHL1‐, DBA‐ and CDH1‐positive staining. Moreover, Stra8 and Scp3 expression, and haploid peak were detected after induction of the SSCs from the group adding GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1. In conclusion, pig SSCs could be maintained for long term in the presence of GDNF, bFGF, and GFRα1.     

Comparison of Nutritional Value,Antioxidant Potential,and Risk Assessment of the Mulberry (Morus) Fruits

Ethnomedicinal uses, chemical composition (major nutrients, essential/toxic metals, phytochemical constituents), and antioxidant properties of the fruits of five Morus species (M. alba, M. laevigata, M. macroura, M. nigra, and M. serrata) were evaluated in this study. Standard methodology was used for the analysis of the nutrients, major/trace metals, phytochemicals, and antioxidant potential of the fruits. Highest average contents of the proteins (13.1%), fats (12.4%), fibers (8.02%), and carbohydrates (80.5%) were found in M. macroura, M. laevigata, M. nigra, and M. serrata, respectively. Among the metals, highest concentration in the fruits was shown by K (1080–1230 mg/kg), followed by Mg (84.4–207 mg/kg), Ca (54.8–146 mg/kg), Fe (13.6–59.0 mg/kg), Na (5.43–14.8 mg/kg), and Zn (2.15–5.57 mg/kg). The phytochemicals and antioxidant activities were measured in the water and acetone extracts of the fruits. Relatively higher total phenolics (85.6 mg GAE/100 g, FW), flavonoids (85.8 mg RE/100 g, FW), flavonols (99.8 mg RE/100 g, FW), and ascorbic acid (4.12 mg AAE/100 g, FW) contents were found in M. nigra, which also revealed significantly higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition (93.8%). Considerably higher OH radical and H₂O₂ scavenging activities were observed in M. macroura and M. alba, respectively. Comparatively higher ferrous ions chelating activity (37.8%) was noted in M. serrata, which also showed highest value for phosphomolybdenum assay (183 µM AAE/100 g, FW). Highest ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (69.9 µM GAE/100 g, FW) was found in M. leavigata. The Morus fruits were a good source of the nutrients, minerals, and phyotchemicals along with superior antioxidant potential. Health risk assessment showed no significant non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic health risk associated with the consumption of these fruits.