Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum: an aerobic phototrophic Acidobacterium

Only five bacterial phyla with members capable of chlorophyll (Chl)-based phototrophy are presently known. Metagenomic data from the phototrophic microbial mats of alkaline siliceous hot springs in Yellowstone National Park revealed the existence of a distinctive bacteriochlorophyll (BChl)-synthesizing, phototrophic bacterium. A highly enriched culture of this bacterium grew photoheterotrophically, synthesized BChls a and c under oxic conditions, and had chlorosomes and type 1 reaction centers. "Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum" is a BChl-producing member of the poorly characterized phylum Acidobacteria.     

Combining resistance tomeloidogyne incognita,M. javanica,M. arenaria andPseudomonas solanacearum in potatoes

The objectives of this study were to combine and increase the frequency of resistance to root-knot and bacterial wilt in potatoes.Solanum sparsipilum was used as the source of resistance toMeloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, M. arenaria, andPseudomonas solanacearum. Neo-tuberosum clones into which bacterial wilt resistance fromSolanum phureja had been transferred were also used. It was possible to transfer the resistance to the three species of root-knot fromS. sparsipilum to the Neo-tuberosum population. Two cycles of selection were made and the percentage of clones resistant toP. solanacearum in the last cycle was 16% over the previous cycle. All the clones resistant toM. arenaria were resistant toM. incognita andM. javanica. Two groups of selected clones were formed. Clones in both groups are resistant to root-knot and bacterial wilt. In one of them the two sources of resistance toP. solanacearum have been combined.     

Antihyperglycemic, Antihyperlipidemic and Antiglycation Effects of Byrsonima crassifolia Fruit and Seed in Normal and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

The hypoglycemic effects of hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts from fruits and seeds of Byrsonima crassifolia were evaluated by oral administration to normoglycemic and streptozotocin-induced severe diabetic rats (SD). The anti-diabetic effect was examined by blood glucose, triglycerides, lipid peroxidation, total cholesterol levels in the serum, glycogen content of liver and skeletal muscles, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels. The most active extracts were obtained with hexane. Hexane and chloroform extracts from fruits and seeds of Byrsonima crassifolia increased the levels of SOD, GSH, GSSG and CAT, hepatic glycogen content, glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and the plasma insulin levels. They also decreased glucokinase (GK) and TBAR (thiobarbituric acid assay). In conclusion, Byrsonima crassifolia possesses significant antihyperglycemic properties after 4 h of a single oral dose. It can also improve hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Both extracts exhibited significant inhibitory activity against AGEs (advanced glycation end products) formation with IC₅₀ values ranging from 94.3 to 138.7 μg/ml. Therefore, B. crassifolia can be considered as a potential safe anti-diabetic agent.     

Advanced Onset of Puberty in Gilts of Thrifty Genotype (Iberian Pig)

The Iberian pig is an autochthonous breed of the Mediterranean area, reared extensively in the central and southern areas of Spain and Portugal and that is known worldwide for the production of Iberian ham. The characteristics of the Iberian ham are related to its abundance of intramuscular fat, owing to the high capacity of the pig to accumulate fat under its skin and between the muscular fibres. This ability to store excess fat enables survival during periods of scarcity and it has been found in other antique animal breeds and even in humans, being named as the thrifty genotype. The reproductive management of the Iberian pig, in spite of a lack of accurate information unlike in other swine breeds, is based on the assumption of lower reproductive precocity and efficiency than the modern commercial breeds. The current study characterized and compared the onset of puberty in gilts of Iberian breed and meat commercial crosses (Large White × Landrace) reared in the same conditions by assessing weekly plasma progesterone profiles. At the end of the experimental period, when the gilts became 180 days old, the percentage of Iberian females that had reached puberty was 72.2%, with a mean age and weight of 160.5 ± 2.6 days and 92.9 ± 4.7 kg, respectively. The percentage of Large White × Landrace cross‐breed females reaching puberty at 180 days was only 15% (p < 0.05). The mean age and weight were 165.0 ± 4.1 days and 107.8 ± 2.2 kg (p < 0.05), respectively. Thus, converse to the traditional assumption, onset of puberty was advanced in Iberian gilts. These results are important for the reproductive management of the Iberian pig but, at the same time, may set the basis for future studies on the metabolism–reproduction link and, specifically, on the possible relationship between earlier accumulation of fat and attainment of puberty.     

Isolation and identification of bacteriophages infecting ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis specific Flavobacterium psychrophilum

In order to investigate methods for controlling systemic bacterial coldwater disease (CWD), bacteriophages that infect Flavobacterium psychrophilum were isolated by the enrichment method from pond water collected from Japanese ayu farms. The five phages isolated were classified as members of Myoviridae (PFpW-3, PFpC-Y), Podoviridae (PFpW-6, PFpW-7), and Siphoviridae (PFpW-8) and had highly variable patterns of infectivity for different F. psychrophilum isolates (n = 128). The stability tests of the phages in different waters, pHs and temperatures were assessed, and the results indicated that none of the phages were affected by ayu farm conditions. Among the phages, PFpW-3 had high infectivity for F. psychrophilum isolated from ayu and other fish and demonstrated sufficient survivability in the stability tests. Thus, PFpW-3 and its indicator strain N2-3 were inoculated into cytophaga broth at different doses of multiplicity of infection (MOI) and proved to be efficient for the reduction of bacterial growth. This study may be the basis for a further evaluation of phage therapy in the treatment of CWD in Japanese ayu farms.     

Increased gonad growth of the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) fed the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) and the sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) enriched with nutrients

Adult (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) purple sea urchins were fed giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) and sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) macroalgae that were unenriched and enriched with nutrients. Urchins were fed over 10 weeks (5% body weight per day) under laboratory conditions to determine the effect of macroalgae species and treatment (enriched and unenriched) on growth, gonad index and gonad quality. Significant differences were observed when urchins were fed enriched Macrocystis pyrifera (MPE). Gonad weight increased from 0.7 ± 0.1 g (mean ± SD) to 5.9 ± 1 g, and gonad index increase from 3.5 ± 1.5% to 14.9 ± 2.3% over 10 weeks. Significant differences were also noted in gonad quality, and gonad colour and firmness were better in urchins that were fed unenriched M. pyrifera (MPUE) and MPE – whereas texture did not differ between M. pyrifera treatments and unenriched U. lactuca (ULUE). With regard to taste, gonads were sweeter in MPE‐fed individuals. Enriched U. lactuca (ULE) failed to grow gonads significantly; as a result, their quality was unacceptable for the market. These results suggest that S. purpuratus experience increased gonad production and quality in short periods when fed nutrient‐enriched M. pyrifera.