Effects of protein and lipid concentrations in broodstock diets on growth, spawning performance and egg quality of yellowfin sea bream (Acanthopagrus latus)

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary protein and lipid concentrations on growth, spawning performance and egg quality of yellowfin sea bream, Acanthopagrus latus. Nine diets representing a combination of three protein concentrations (40, 50 and 60%) and three lipid concentrations (15, 20 and 25%) were tested with three replicates. Each replicate was stocked with 10 fish with a sex ratio of 1:1 and the average weights were 415 g and 236 g for females and males, respectively. Fish were fed to satiation twice daily. The weight gain of A. latus broodstock was not significantly (P > 0.05) different among fish fed diets with the various protein and lipid concentrations. Except for relative fecundity and survival rate of 3-day-post-hatch (3DPH) larvae, spawning performance of A. latus was not significantly affected by different concentrations of dietary protein or lipid. Relative fecundity was found to be significantly elevated by dietary lipid at 20% concentration. However, survival rate of 3DPH larvae was highest from broodstock fed diets with 40% protein and 25% lipid, 50% protein and 15% lipid and 60% protein and 15% lipid concentrations. Egg diameter generally increased with increasing dietary protein from 40 to 60% at each lipid concentration. Total length of hatchlings followed an inverse relationship with dietary protein regardless of the lipid concentration. The oil globule diameter (OGD) of hatchlings significantly increased with decreasing dietary protein from 60 to 40%. Yolk sac length (YSL) and OGD of hatchlings was generally greatest at 15% dietary lipid concentration irrespective of protein concentrations. Total length of 3DPH larvae was greatest from broodstock fed diets with 50% protein and 20% lipid, respectively. Body protein content of broodstock was not significantly affected by dietary protein and lipid concentrations. However, increasing dietary lipid generally resulted in increasing body lipid content regardless of the dietary protein concentration. Protein and lipid contents of eggs, hatchlings and 3DPH larvae were significantly affected by dietary protein and lipid concentrations of the broodstock diets. The present study revealed that the best reproductive performance of A. latus broodstock was achieved at 40% dietary protein and 20% dietary lipid concentrations based on relative fecundity, fertilization rate, hatchability and survival of 3DPH larvae.     

The effects of water additive Bacillus cereus and Pediococcus acidilactici on water quality,growth performances,economic benefits,immunohematology and bacterial flora of whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei Boone, 1931) reared in earthen ponds

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of two probiotics, Bacillus cereus and Pediococcus acidilactici, on the water quality, growth performance, the survival ratio, economic benefits, immunohematology and bacterial flora in the intestine of whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei after 110 days. Nine earthen ponds (each one 1.2 hectare) were adjusted as three treatments including control (without adding bacteria), containing P. acidilactici probiotic (10⁶ CFU/mL) and containing B. cereus probiotic (10⁶ CFU/mL). The results showed that the adding B. cereus and P. acidilactici to the water pond positively decreased nitrate, ammonia and biochemical oxygen demand when compared with the control group (p < .05). Regarding growth performance, treating shrimp with B. cereus caused significantly higher weight gain (16.72 g) and survival ratio (94.50%) in comparison with control group (p < .05). Using these probiotics could increase shrimp production (27.30%, 18.42%) and net income (92.94%, 49.20%) as well. Respect to immunity, total hemocyte count (9.00), total protein (8.92 g/dl) and lysozyme activity (21.55 U/ml) in treated whiteleg shrimp with B. cereus were significantly higher than those untreated (p < .05). In conclusion, adding B. cereus (10⁶ CFU/ml) to the earthen pond can be suggested in shrimp farm.     

An Enterovirus-Like RNA Construct for Colon Cancer Suicide Gene Therapy

Background:

In gene therapy, the use of RNA molecules as therapeutic agents has shown advantages over plasmid DNA, including higher levels of safety. However, transient nature of RNA has been a major obstacle in application of RNA in gene therapy.

Methods:

Here, we used the internal ribosomal entry site of encephalomyocarditis virus and the 3’ non-translated region of Poliovirus to design an enterovirus-like RNA for the expression of a reporter gene (enhanced green fluorescent protein) and a suicide gene (thymidine kinase of herpes simplex virus). The expression of these genes was evaluated by flow cytometry and cytotoxicity assay in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (SW480). We then armed RNA molecules with a target sequence for hsa-miR-143 to regulate their expression by microRNA (miRNA) mimics.

Results:

The results showed effective expression of both genes by Entrovirus-like RNA constructs. The data also showed that the restoration of hsa-miR-143 expression in SW480 leads to a significant translation repression of the introduced reporter and suicide genes.

Conclusion:

Collectively, our data suggest the potential use of Entrovirus-like RNA molecules in suicide gene therapy. Additionally, as a consequence of the possible downregulated miRNA expression in cancerous tissues, a decreased expression of gene therapy constructs armed with target sequences for such miRNA in cancer tissue is expected.Key Words: Thymidine kinase, Polio 3’NCR, miR-143