Replacement of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) meal by lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) seed meal in diet for juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus×O. aureus) reared indoors

An 8‐week trial was conducted to assess the feasibility of replacing soybean meal (SBM) by lupin seed meal (LSM) in simulated commercial diets for juvenile tilapia starting at 0.3 g. Of the dietary protein (26% crude protein), 3.45% was from fishmeal and the rest came from the vegetable protein sources. The protein source of the control (C) diet came mainly from SBM and none (0%) from LSM. For the other diets, 33%, 67%, or 100% of the SBM protein was replaced by protein from either whole or dehulled LSM. One further diet was used: AW100, where alkaloid of the whole lupin seed was reduced. Survival, growth, and feed performance were compared among seven orthogonal contrasts to determine the effects of replacing SBM with whole LSM or dehulled LSM, and of reducing the alkaloid content. No differences in survival were found among all contrasts. No differences in fish growth and feed performance were found between feeding diet C and the other six diets ((whole, dehulled) × (33, 67, and 100)). Dehulled LSM diets resulted in better growth and feed performance than the whole LSM diets. Partial replacement of SBM by either dehulled LSM or whole LSM in diets obtained better growth and feed performance than total replacement. The AW100 diet resulted in equal fish growth but better feed performance than the W100 diet. This study concluded that partial, but not total, replacement of soybean protein with lupin seed protein in juvenile tilapia diets resulted in better, or at least equal, growth and feed performance. Dehulling further enhanced the growth and performance of LSM. Alkaloid removal improved feed performance but not the growth.     

Complete repertoire of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis enzymes in a cyprinid,silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus): Cloning,functional characterization and dietary regulation of Elovl2 and Elovl4

The silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus) is a valuable cyprinid with good deposition of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFA) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We have previously isolated a fatty acyl desaturase (Fads2) and elongase (Elovl5), which fulfils the production of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) from C18 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) substrates. The isolation, functional characterization and dietary regulation of two elongases, Elovl2 and Elovl4, are reported here. The Elovl2 displayed the capacity to elongate C20 and C22 PUFA substrates, while the showed low activities towards saturated fatty acids and C22 PUFA substrates. This discovery validates the existence of a complete set of enzymes of LC‐PUFA in silver barb. The elovl2 showed higher expression in liver, in limited dietary LC‐PUFA intake conditions. As for Elovl4, tissue expression showed prominence in eye tissue. We also showed that the expression of both genes was upregulated when fish was fed with diets devoid of LC‐PUFA. Fatty acid composition analysis indicates the utilization of C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids for LC‐PUFA biosynthesis.     

The antioxidant capacity response to hypoxia stress during transportation of characins (Hyphessobrycon callistus Boulenger) fed diets supplemented with carotenoids

This study aimed to determine whether dietary carotenoid (CD) supplements could affect the antioxidant capacity of characins Hyphessobrycon callistus upon hypoxia stress at live transportation. Two types of CD [astaxanthin (AX), β‐carotene (BC)] and their 1:1 combination (MX) at three concentrations (10, 20 and 40 mg kg^?1) were supplemented, resulting in nine CD diets. After 8 weeks' rearing, the resulting fish were divided into two subgroups and exposed to hypoxia or normoxia. Hypoxia involved a gradual decrease in dissolved oxygen (DO) from 6.5 to <1.0 mg L^?1. Normoxia was DO kept in saturation. Hypoxia led to an increase in the total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidases (GPx) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity of blood serum in fish, but had no effect on alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Under hypoxia, fish fed CD diets had lower SOD, GPx and ALT activity than control fish, showing that dietary CD could increase the antioxidant capacity and protection of the liver. Dietary AX was more effective for antioxidant capacity than BC and MX when under hypoxia stress, because GPx, ALT and AST were lower in AX‐fed fish. Except TAS, the other four enzyme activities showed decreasing trends with increasing dietary CD concentrations.     

Effects of dietary levan on growth performance,nonspecific immunity,pathogen resistance and body composition of orange‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides H.)

This study investigated the effects of levan produced by Bacillus licheniformis FRI MY‐55 on growth performance, intestinal count of viable bacteria, immune status, pathogen resistance and body composition of orange‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Orange‐spotted grouper were fed diets supplemented with levan at concentrations of 0 (control), 5.0, 10.0, 25.0 and 50.0 g kg^?1 for 12 weeks. The final weight and per cent weight gain were significantly higher in the 25.0 g kg^?1 levan‐supplemented group than in the control group (p < 0.05). All levan‐supplemented diets significantly decreased the count of total viable aerobic bacteria and Vibrio spp. in the intestines of groupers (p < 0.05). Serum total protein levels, globulin levels, lysozyme activity and survival rate of orange‐spotted grouper after challenge with V. harveyi were significantly higher in the 25.0 g kg^?1 levan‐supplemented group than in the control group (p < 0.05). This study also found that the 10.0, 25.0 and 50.0 g kg^?1 levan‐supplemented diets significantly increased the crude protein level in the body composition of orange‐spotted grouper. Overall, the results of this study indicate that dietary levan (25.0 g kg^?1) could be an effective method for enhancing the growth performance and disease resistance in orange‐spotted grouper.     

The relevance of mitochondrial lineages of Taiwanese cultured grey mullet,Mugil cephalus,to commercial products of Roe

Mugil cephalus is an important aquaculture species in Taiwan with highly valuable roe. In order to obtain its roe, mullet fry from various Taiwan estuaries are raised in aquaculture ponds until maturity. However, not all female mullets have developed ovaries. Therefore, we have attempted to use DNA profiling to aid selection of mullet fry for aquaculture. A large proportion of North coast mullet and some West coast mullet were identified as cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial lineage 1. COI mitochondrial lineage 2 was dominant in the west and east coast estuaries, whereas COI mitochondrial lineage 3 was fewest and only was present in Chang‐hua county (middle west of Taiwan). The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of lineage 1 individuals ranged from 0 to 5, no matter where the mullet fry were captured. The GSI of both the west and east coast lineage 2 individuals ranged from 0 to over 15, but the GSI of lineage 2 of the I‐lan (north east of Taiwan) population was generally lower than that of western populations. These findings suggest that a genetic difference whereby west coast lineage 2 mullet yield heavier roe although the body size of lineage 1 individual is larger than that of lineage 2. Thus, lineage 2 individuals with their normal GSI distribution are the most economically viable. The application of the rapid screening of mitochondrial lineages is expected to help aquaculture farmers cultivate lineage 2 fry for roe production rather than lineage 1.     

Structures of the CXCR4 chemokine GPCR with small-molecule and cyclic peptide antagonists

Chemokine receptors are critical regulators of cell migration in the context of immune surveillance, inflammation, and development. The G protein-coupled chemokine receptor CXCR4 is specifically implicated in cancer metastasis and HIV-1 infection. Here we report five independent crystal structures of CXCR4 bound to an antagonist small molecule IT1t and a cyclic peptide CVX15 at 2.5 to 3.2 angstrom resolution. All structures reveal a consistent homodimer with an interface including helices V and VI that may be involved in regulating signaling. The location and shape of the ligand-binding sites differ from other G protein-coupled receptors and are closer to the extracellular surface. These structures provide new clues about the interactions between CXCR4 and its natural ligand CXCL12, and with the HIV-1 glycoprotein gp120.     

Organochlorine pesticide residue in Chinese herbal medicine

Over ten-year routine inspection results on organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residue were summarized, OCPs residues, including BHC isomers (α, β, γ, and δ-BHC), DDT analogs (p,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDT), and pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) and its metabolites (pentachloroaniline and methyl pentachlorophenyl sulfide (MPCPS)), in 1,665 samples for 37 types of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) using the QuEChERS method coupled with the GC-ECD. Based on the maximal residue levels for OCPs set by Asian pharmacopeias, PCNB contamination in Ginseng radix as well as the total DDT and PCNB contamination in Panacis quinquefolii radix are of concern. OCP residues in different parts of Panax ginseng were also compared. The total BHC residue in leaf and fibrous root, as well as the total DDT and PCNB residue in all parts, exceeded MRL of 0.1 mg/kg. Overall, this study provided meaningful results about OCP residue in CHM for pharmaceutical industries and consumers.     

Fruit quality, antioxidant capacity, and flavonoid content of organically and conventionally grown blueberries

The effect of cultivation practices on fruit quality and antioxidant capacity in highbush blueberries var. Bluecrop (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) was evaluated from random samples of commercial late harvest fields in New Jersey. Results from this study showed that blueberry fruit grown from organic culture yielded significantly higher sugars (fructose and glucose), malic acid, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity (ORAC) than fruit from the conventional culture. In organically cultured fruit, the average values for the ORAC, total anthocyanins, and total phenolic content were 46.14 micromol of Trolox (TE)/g of fresh weight (fwt), 131.2 mg/100 g of fwt, and 319.3 mg/100 g of fwt, respectively. In conventionally cultured fruit, the average values for the ORAC, total anthocyanin, and total phenol content were 30.8 micromol of TE/g of fwt, 82.4 mg/100 g of fwt, and 190.3 mg/100 g of fwt, respectively. The organic culture also produced fruit with higher contents of myricetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-galactoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-arabinoside, petunidin 3-galactoside, petunidin 3-glucoside, and malvidin 3-arabinoside than conventional culture. There was a significant correlation between the ORAC values and total phenolics and total anthocyanins. These results indicate that even though there were variations in phytonutrient content among individual farms within each cultural system, significant differences between two cultivation practices were evident.