Formation of dityrosine cross-links during breadmaking

To establish its significance during commercial breadmaking, dityrosine formation was quantified in flours and doughs of six commercial wheat types at various stages of the Chorleywood Bread Process. Dityrosine was formed mainly during mixing and baking, at the levels of nmol/g dry weight. Good breadmaking flours tended to exhibit a higher dityrosine content in the final bread than low quality ones, but no relationship was found for dityrosine as a proportion of flour protein content, indicating that the latter was still a dominant factor in the analysis. There was no correlation between gluten yield of the six wheat types and their typical dityrosine concentrations, suggesting that dityrosine cross-links were not a determinant factor for gluten formation. Ascorbic acid was found to inhibit dityrosine formation during mixing and proving, and it has no significant effect on dityrosine in the final bread. Hydrogen peroxide promoted dityrosine formation, which suggests that a radical mechanism involving endogenous peroxidases might be responsible for dityrosine formation during breadmaking.     

Differential heat sensitivity of two cool-season legumes,chickpea and lentil,at the reproductive stage,is associated with responses in pollen function,photosynthetic ability and oxidative damage

Increasing temperatures are adversely affecting various food crops, including legumes, and this issue requires attention. The growth of two cool-season food legumes, chickpea and lentil, is inhibited by high temperatures but their relative sensitivity to heat stress and the underlying reasons have not been investigated. Moreover, the high-temperature thresholds for these two legumes have not been well-characterised. In the present study, three chickpea (ICCVO7110, ICC5912 and ICCV92944) and two lentil (LL699 and LL931) genotypes, having nearly similar phenology with respect to flowering, were grown at 30/20°C (day/night; control) until the onset of flowering and subsequently exposed to varying high temperatures (35/25, 38/28, 40/30 and 42/32°C; day/night) in a controlled environment (growth chamber; 12 hr/12 hr; light intensity 750 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹; RH-70%) at 108 days after sowing for both the species. Phenology (podding, maturity) was accelerated in both the species; the days to podding declined more in lentil at 35/25 (2.8 days) and 38/28°C (11.3 days) than in chickpea (1.7 and 7.1 days, respectively). Heat stress decreased flowering–podding and podding–maturity intervals considerably in both the species. At higher temperatures, no podding was observed in lentil, while chickpea showed reduction of 14.9 and 16.1 days at 40/30 and 42/32°C, respectively. Maturity was accelerated on 15.3 and 12.5 days at 38/28°C, 33.6 and 34 days at 40/30°C and 45.6 and 47 days at 42/32°C, in chickpea and lentil, respectively. Consequently, biomass decreased considerably at 38/28°C in both the species to limit the yield-related traits. Lentil was significantly more sensitive to heat stress, with the damage—assessed as reduction in biomass, reproductive function-related traits (pollen viability, germination, pollen tube growth and stigma receptivity), leaf traits such as membrane injury, leaf water status, photochemical efficiency, chlorophyll concentration, carbon fixation and assimilation, and oxidative stress, appearing even at 35/25°C, compared with 38/28°C, in chickpea. The expression of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and non-enzymatic antioxidants declined remarkably with heat stress, more so in lentil than in chickpea. Carbon fixation (assessed as Rubisco activity) and assimilation (assessed as sucrose concentration, sucrose synthase activity) were also reduced more in lentil than in chickpea, at all the stressful temperatures, resulting in more inhibition of plant biomass (shoot + roots), damage to reproductive function and severe reduction in pods and seeds. At 38/28°C, lentil showed 43% reduction in biomass, while it declined by 17.2% in chickpea at the same time, over the control temperature (30/20°C). At this temperature, lentil showed 53% and 46% reduction in pods and seed yield, compared to 13.4% and 22% decrease in chickpea at the same temperature. At 40/30°C, lentil did not produce any pods, while chickpea was able to produce few pods at this temperature. This study identified that lentil is considerably more sensitive to heat stress than chickpea, as a result of more damage to leaves (photosynthetic ability; oxidative injury) and reproductive components (pollen function, etc.) at 35/25°C and above, at controlled conditions.     

Maillard reaction and protein cross-linking in relation to the solubility of milk powders

Protein changes in relation to solubility, Maillard reaction (MR), and protein cross-linking in whole milk powder (WMP), skim milk powder (SMP), and whey protein concentrate (WPC) stored at different relative humidities (RHs) were investigated by chemical and electrophoretic methods. WMP and SMP reached minimum solubility rapidly, while WPC showed no change in solubility. The loss of solubility corresponded with development of high-molecular-weight protein complexes observed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The maximal MR rate occurred at 66% RH for WMP and SMP (high lactose/protein ratios) and 84% RH for WPC (low lactose/protein ratios) based on the furosine and hydroxymethylfurfural contents. However, browning was greatest at 84% RH in all powders. The minimum solubility corresponded with the casein and fat contents. The retention of solubility and minimal protein cross-linking of WPC compared to casein-containing powders suggest that the casein content and cross-linking strongly influence the decrease in the solubility of milk powder.     

‘Drumstick tree’ (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Moringa oleifera</Emphasis> Lam.): a multipurpose potential species in India

Moringa oleifera Lam., a medium sized tree species has gained importance due to its multipurpose usage and well adaptability to dry and hot climates of north-western plains, central India and dry regions of peninsular India. This species is reported in this paper for distribution of diversity and genetic resources value in different parts of the country. Information on diversification in use viz. regional importance has been included to broaden the scope for value addition, identification of potential value and use in plant genetic resource programmes.     

Evaluation of alternatives to antibiotics using an Escherichia coli K88+ model of piglet diarrhea: effects on gut microbial ecology

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is a major problem in the swine industry and results in scouring, increased mortality, and poor performance in the period immediately postweaning. The traditional way to control this problem is to include subtherapeutic antibiotics in the feed, but this is no longer acceptable to consumers; thus, alternatives to antibiotics are needed. One of the supplements that has been effective in reducing scouring in the absence of antibiotics is animal blood products produced from the rendering process. This is also becoming a problem because of concerns regarding the transfer of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies to humans from animals. In this research, we investigated the effects of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP), a Bacillus subtilis direct-fed microbial (DFM), a blend of organic acids, and sweeteners on E. coli-induced scouring. A total of 108 pigs of approximately 17 d of age were assigned to 6 treatments, with 3 pigs per pen, in 2 blocks, with each block having 3 replicates. The 2 blocks were initiated approximately 2 mo apart, because a sufficient number of pigs were not available that met our inclusion criteria in the first block. Diet 1 was a negative control containing no antibiotics (NC). Diet 2 was the positive control and included the same ingredient composition as NC except that antibiotics (110 mg/kg of chlortetracycline, 110 mg/kg of sulfamethazine, and 55 mg/kg of penicillin) were added (PC). Diet 3 was equal to the NC, but with a B. subtilis probiotic (DFM). Diet 4 was the NC to which SDPP was added. Diet 5 was the NC plus a combination of SDPP and DFM (SDPP + DFM). Diet 6 was the NC plus a combination of supplements, including SDPP and a blend of organic acids, DFM, and a sweetener (Blend). At 24 d of age, the pigs were experimentally infected with 6.3 x 10(9) cfu/mL of E. coli K88. All pigs were euthanized 7 d after infection and tissues were obtained for analysis. There were no significant differences among treatments for ADG, ADFI, G:F, plasma urea nitrogen, alpha-acid glycoprotein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, intestinal ammonia, pH, or VFA. However, the PC and DFM treatments showed decreased (P < 0.05) scours at 24 h postinfection compared with the NC, SDPP, and SDPP + DFM diets. Mortality in the NC treatment, which did not contain antibiotics, was greater (P < 0.05) than in the other treatments. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rDNA genes of digesta showed a greater incidence (P < 0.05) of Bacteroidetes in the PC and DFM diets than in the NC diet. When SDPP and DFM were included in the diet, the incidence of Bacteroidetes was also greater than in the NC diet (P < 0.05).     

Histology-guided high-resolution AP-SMALDI mass spectrometry imaging of wheat-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium graminearum</Emphasis> interaction at the root–shoot junction

Background

Fungal pathogens like Fusarium graminearum can cause severe yield losses and mycotoxin contamination of food and feed worldwide. We recently showed its ability to systemically colonize wheat via root infection. However, the molecular response of wheat to Fusarium root rot (FRR) infection and systemic spread is still unknown. As a molecular camera, mass spectrometry (MS) imaging combines label-free and multiplex metabolite profiling with histopathology.

Results

Atmospheric-pressure (AP)-SMALDI-MS imaging was combined with optical microscopy to study wheat-F. graminearum interaction at the root–shoot junction, which is a crucial line of defense against a pathogen that can invade all distal plant parts. To scope the functional, temporal and local aspects of FRR disease spread, metabolic changes were simultaneous visualized in diseased and healthy stem bases of the resistant cultivar Florence-Aurore at 10, 14 and 21 days after root inoculation. Histological information was used to identify disease relevant tissues and to assist the interpretation of molecular images. Detected mycotoxin compounds secreted by F. graminearum showed a route of stem infection that was consistent with observations made by microscopy. The outer epidermis and vasculature of leaf sheath were, at different disease stages, identified as prominent sites of pathogen migration and wheat protection. Wheat metabolites mapped to these relatively small tissues indicated cell wall strengthening and antifungal activity as direct defenses as well as conservation in the wheat reactions to F. graminearum diseases that affect different plant organs.

Conclusions

AP-SMALDI-MS imaging at high spatial resolution is a versatile technique that can be applied to basic and applied aspects of agricultural research. Combining the technology with optical microscopy was found to be a powerful tool to gain in-depth information on almost unknown crop disease. Moreover, the approach allowed studying metabolism at the host–pathogen interface. The results provide important hints to an understanding of the complex spatio-temporal organization of plant resistance. Defense-on-demand responses to pathogen ingress were found, which provide opportunities for future research towards an improved resistance that does not negatively impact yield development in the field by saving plant resources and, moreover, may control different Fusarium diseases.

     

Hiatal hernia controversies - a review of pathophysiology and treatment options

Objective To provide a detailed discussion of the aetiology and pathophysiology of hiatal hernia in both humans and small animals, and review current medical and surgical treatments.
Design Review article.
Summary Hiatal hernia is not completely understood in humans or animals. It has a complex multifactorial aetiology and pathophysiology. A primary disturbance of the lower oesophageal sphincter has not been shown in humans or animals. Knowledge of pathophysiology is necessary to institute appropriate treatment.
Medical and/or surgical therapy is not indicated in asymptomatic cases. Medical treatment should be used for up to 1 month in stable cases of sliding hiatal hernia. Paraoesophageal hiatal hernias and any large sliding hiatal hernia should be considered for prompt surgical treatment. Surgical techniques used depend on the type of hiatal hernia present.
Surgical treatment of hiatal hernia cases should be performed by experienced surgeons, and must include hiatal closure and gastropexy. The Nissen fundoplication procedure has been discontinued in the veterinary field due to poor success rates, coupled with the published view that there is a marked difference in pathophysiology between humans and dogs. Reported complications associated with the original Nissen fundoplication technique are identical in the human and veterinary literature. There have been no complications reported with use of the modified or 'floppy' Nissen fundoplica-tion in dogs. Both oesophagopexy and Nissen fundoplication require further evaluation in small animals.     

Identification and pathogenicity of Alternaria alternata causing leaf spot and blight disease of Ailanthus excelsa in India

Alternaria leaf spot of Ailanthus excelsa is generally considered as minor disease in India. Recently, severe disease outbreaks were recorded in the nursery of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, progeny trial at Jhumpa, Haryana, and in a nearby farm field. Leaf symptoms included small circular, brown, necrotic spots with a chlorotic halo. With severe infections, leaf spots coalesced and resulted in leaf blight. A small‐spored Alternaria with concatenated conidia was isolated consistently from the leaf samples with spot symptoms. Sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and the translation elongation factor 1‐alpha (tef‐1α) gene region of two fungal isolates confirmed the species as A. alternata. In detached leaf assays, both isolates produced symptoms similar to those observed on the nursery/field‐grown plants. To validate the detached leaf assay result, pathogenicity was also demonstrated on whole plants in a glasshouse. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re‐isolating A. alternata from the inoculated leaves. This work is the first to confirm that A. alternata is associated with leaf spot and blight disease of A. excelsa in India.     

Fullerene pipes

Single-wall fullerene nanotubes were converted from nearly endless, highly tangled ropes into short, open-ended pipes that behave as individual macromolecules. Raw nanotube material was purified in large batches, and the ropes were cut into 100- to 300-nanometer lengths. The resulting pieces formed a stable colloidal suspension in water with the help of surfactants. These suspensions permit a variety of manipulations, such as sorting by length, derivatization, and tethering to gold surfaces.