Earthworms and collembola relationships: effects of predatory centipedes and humus forms

Relationships between anecic earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea giardi) and the collembolan species Heteromurus nitidus (Templeton, 1835), which is known to be attracted to earthworms, were investigated in an 8-week laboratory experiment. Our aims were (1) to assess whether earthworms influence the population dynamics of H. nitidus, and (2) to study pathways of influence and how earthworm effects are modified by humus forms and predators. Using microcosms with three defaunated humus forms, then provided with earthworms and predators, we intended to demonstrate that, amongst possible favourable effects of earthworms on springtail populations, earthworm activity may provide greater access and more pathways for springtails to explore soil and avoid predation. We expected that the effects of predators (centipedes) on the abundance of H. nitidus would increase from less (calcic mull) to more (moder) compact soil, and we hypothesized that earthworms would reduce predation pressure on H. nitidus by providing escape routes through increased macroporosity. Humus forms and earthworms only affected the population size of H. nitidus under high predation pressure, when collembolan numbers were higher in calcic mull than in moder, and were increased by the presence of earthworms. These results corroborate the hypothesis that earthworms, by increasing soil macroporosity, improve the escape routes for Collembola and thus evade predation. In moder humus earthworms increased the density of H. nitidus whether predators were present or not, so we cannot exclude that earthworms were also directly beneficial to H. nitidus. However, the hypothesis of a functional relationship mediated by soil macroporosity seems relevant since it was supported by differences observed when considering body size. When two size classes were distinguished within populations of H. nitidus (1) the positive effect of earthworms in moder was observed only on larger Collembola (>1 mm), (2) the density of the larger Collembola was decreased by predation only in moder and not in mull, (3) the effects of predators on the smaller individuals were not influenced by the presence of earthworms whatever the humus form, and was not decreased by the presence of earthworms. Nevertheless, factors other than macroporosity may operate as the presence of earthworms in acidic mull led to an unexplained decrease in the abundance of small-sized H. nitidus.     

Bioprospecting Marine Plankton

The ocean dominates the surface of our planet and plays a major role in regulating the biosphere. For example, the microscopic photosynthetic organisms living within provide 50% of the oxygen we breathe, and much of our food and mineral resources are extracted from the ocean. In a time of ecological crisis and major changes in our society, it is essential to turn our attention towards the sea to find additional solutions for a sustainable future. Remarkably, while we are overexploiting many marine resources, particularly the fisheries, the planktonic compartment composed of zooplankton, phytoplankton, bacteria and viruses, represents 95% of marine biomass and yet the extent of its diversity remains largely unknown and underexploited. Consequently, the potential of plankton as a bioresource for humanity is largely untapped. Due to their diverse evolutionary backgrounds, planktonic organisms offer immense opportunities: new resources for medicine, cosmetics and food, renewable energy, and long-term solutions to mitigate climate change. Research programs aiming to exploit culture collections of marine micro-organisms as well as to prospect the huge resources of marine planktonic biodiversity in the oceans are now underway, and several bioactive extracts and purified compounds have already been identified. This review will survey and assess the current state-of-the-art and will propose methodologies to better exploit the potential of marine plankton for drug discovery and for dermocosmetics.     

Increasing circulation of Alaria alata mesocercaria in wild boar populations of the Rhine valley,France, 2007–2011

The presence of the mesocercarial stage of Alaria alata (Goeze, 1792) in wild boar meat represents a potential risk for human, but little is known about the circulation of mesocercaria in wild boar populations. Routine Trichinella inspection, mandatorily performed in wild boar in France, also allowed detecting mesocercaria. We analyzed the results of this detection in the carcasses of 27,582 wild boars hunted in 2007–2011, in 502 hunting areas of the Rhine valley. Prevalence was globally low (0.6%), but 12% of the hunting areas were affected. These were clustered in lowlands of the Rhine valley, and prevalence strongly decreased with increasing elevation. In the lowlands, prevalence doubled between 2007 and 2011. This time trend and the geographic aggregation of positive wild boars suggest risk management measures based on targeted surveillance, control and prevention.     

Phenotypic and 16S ribosomal RNA gene diversity of Taylorella asinigenitalis strains isolated between 1995 and 2008

The objective of this study was to examine the degree of phenotypic and genotypic diversity between 43 French Taylorella asinigenitalis strains isolated from 22 jacks, two stallions and one mare between 1995 and 2008 by culturing genital swabs obtained during routine diagnosis for contagious equine metritis. This retrospective analysis revealed the existence of T. asinigenitalis species since 1995 and the natural colonization of a mare's genital tract in 2001. Despite the presence of 27 different patterns revealed by the combination of API ZYM, antibiogram and 16S rDNA profiles, we show that T. asinigenitalis is a highly homogeneous species. API ZYM diversity only concerns acid phosphatase and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase activity. The majority of strains are susceptible to a wide range of antimicrobial agents but most are streptomycin-resistant (95.5%), ampicillin-resistant (88.4%), and four strains are atypical due to a high degree of resistance to at least eight antimicrobial agents. 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed only two clusters and revealed similarity of 99.3-100% between T. asinigenitalis strains. The geographic origin of the 43 isolates correlates to the two 16S rDNA clusters.     

Red wine polyphenols alone or in association with ethanol prevent hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and production of reactive oxygen species in the insulin-resistant fructose-fed rat

The effects of a red wine polyphenolic extract (RWPE), ethanol, or both combined were evaluated in insulin resistant rats. Rats were fed for 6 weeks with fructose (60%)-enriched food and force-fed with (a) water only (F group), (b) aqueous solution of RWPE (100 mg/kg, FP group), (c) 10% (v/v) mixture of ethanol and water (FE group), or (d) solution containing the same amount of the RWPE and ethanol (FPE group). Animals fed a standard chow (C group) were used for comparison purpose. After 6 weeks, blood pressure was higher in F (130.0 x b1 1.7 mm Hg) than in C animals (109.6 x b1 0.9 mm Hg) and similar to the C group in all other fructose-fed treatment groups. Relative heart weight was higher in F (3.10 x b1 0.05) than in C (2.78 x b1 0.07) and significantly lower in FP (2.92 x b1 0.04) and FPE (2.87 x b1 0.08 mg/g) than in F animals. Left ventricle and aorta productions of reactive oxygen species (O2*-) were higher in F than in C groups and lowered by the RWPE but not by the ethanol treatment. Ethanol but not the RWPE treatment reduced the degree of insulin resistance in the fructose-fed rats. In summary, our study showed that polyphenols are able to prevent cardiac hypertrophy and production of reactive oxygen species in the insulin resistant fructose-fed rat.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae decreases inflammatory responses induced by F4+ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in porcine intestinal epithelial cells

Probiotic yeasts may provide protection against intestinal inflammation induced by enteric pathogens. In piglets, infection with F4+ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) leads to inflammation, diarrhea and intestinal damage. In this study, we investigated whether the yeast strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc, strain CNCM I-3856) and S. cerevisiae variety boulardii (Sb, strain CNCM I-3799) decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in intestinal epithelial IPI-2I cells cultured with F4+ ETEC. Results showed that viable Sc inhibited the ETEC-induced TNF-α gene expression whereas Sb did not. In contrast, killed Sc failed to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. This inhibition was dependent on secreted soluble factors. Sc culture supernatant decreased the TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, CXCL2 and CCL20 ETEC-induced mRNA. Furthermore, Sc culture supernatant filtrated fraction < 10 kDa displayed the same effects excepted for TNF-α. Thus, our results extended to Sc (strain CNCM I-3856) the inhibitory effects of some probiotic yeast strains onto inflammation.     

Regulation of cell migration by the C2 domain of the tumor suppressor PTEN

PTEN is a tumor suppressor protein that dephosphorylates phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 trisphosphate and antagonizes the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase signaling pathway. We show here that PTEN can also inhibit cell migration through its C2 domain, independent of its lipid phosphatase activity. This activity depends on the protein phosphatase activity of PTEN and on dephosphorylation at a single residue, threonine(383). The ability of PTEN to control cell migration through its C2 domain is likely to be an important feature of its tumor suppressor activity.     

Responses to 19 generations of litter size selection in the NE Index line. II. Growth and carcass responses estimated in pure line and crossbred litters

Our objective was to estimate responses in growth and carcass traits in the NE Index line (I) that was selected for 19 generations for increased litter size. Differences between Line I and the randomly selected control line (C) were estimated in pure line litters and in F1 and three-way cross litters produced by mating I and C females with males of unrelated lines. Contrasts of means were used to estimate the genetic difference between I and C and interactions of line differences with mating type. In Exp 1, 694 gilts that were retained for breeding, including 538 I and C and 156 F1 gilts from I and C dams mated with Danbred NA Landrace (L) sires, were evaluated. Direct genetic effects of I and C did not differ for backfat (BF) at 88.2 kg or days to 88.2 kg; however, I pigs had 1.58 cm2 smaller LM area than did C pigs (P < 0.05). Averaged over crosses, F1 gilts had 0.34 cm less BF, 4.29 cm2 greater LM area, and 31 d less to 88.2 kg than did pure line gilts (P < 0.05). In Exp 2, barrows and gilts were individually penned for feed intake recording from 27 to 113 kg and slaughtered. A total of 43 I and C pigs, 77 F1 pigs produced from pure line females mated with either L or Danbred NA 3/4 Duroc, 1/4 Hampshire boars (T), and 76 three-way cross pigs produced from F1 females mated with T boars were used. Direct genetic effects of I and C did not differ for ADFI, ADG, G:F, days to 113 kg, BF, LM area, ultimate pH of the LM, LM Minolta L* score, or percentage of carcass lean. Interactions of line effects with crossing system were significant only for days to 113 kg. Pure line I pigs took 4.58+/-4.00 d more to reach 113 kg than did C pigs, whereas I cross F1 pigs reached 113 kg in 6.70+/-3.95 d less than C cross F1 pigs. Three-way cross and F1 pigs did not differ significantly for most traits, but the average crossbred pig consumed more feed (0.23+/-0.04 kg/d), gained more BW per unit of feed consumed (0.052+/-0.005 kg/kg), grew faster (0.20+/-0.016 kg/d), had less BF (-0.89+/-0.089 cm), greater LM area (5.74+/-0.926 cm2), more lean (6.21+/-0.90%), and higher L* score (5.27+/-1.377) than the average pure line pig did (P < 0.05). Nineteen generations of selection for increased litter size produced few correlated responses in growth and carcass traits, indicating these traits are largely genetically independent of litter size, ovulation rate, and embryonic survival.     

A study of experimental acute lung injury in pigs on zero end-expiratory pressure

OBJECTIVES: Tidal expiratory flow limitation (EFL) has been reported in humans with acute lung injury (ALI) and assumed to be associated with small airway closure. Detection of EFL is important because by selecting positive end-expiratory pressure at such a level that EFL is no longer present in the tidal breath, the repeated opening and closure of small airways can be prevented. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of EFL in two experimental models of ALI. ANIMALS: Ten female piglets. METHODS: Animals were anaesthetized, tracheotomized and mechanically ventilated on zero end-expiratory pressure. Acute lung injury was induced by oleic acid (OA) (n = 5) or saline lavage (SL) (n = 5). Tidal EFL was assessed by the negative expiratory pressure test. Lung and chest wall mechanics were partitioned using an oesophageal balloon. Resistance and static elastance were assessed by a rapid airway occlusion technique at baseline ventilatory settings. RESULTS: There was no EFL at any time before and after ALI in both models. This may be due to an increased elastance which promoted higher expiratory flow after ALI and to a decreased chest wall to lung static elastance ratio which could favour small airways patency. The similar increase in total lung resistance, in the two models, after ALI was mostly due to an increased airway resistance in the OA model and to the lung tissue resistance in the SL model. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Tidal EFL was not detected in experimental ALI. This finding casts some doubt about the usefulness of some experimental models of ALI to mimic some reported findings in human ALI.     

Effects of dietary wheat middlings, distillers dried grains with solubles, and choice white grease on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and carcass fat quality of finishing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of adding combinations of wheat middlings (midds), distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and choice white grease (CWG) to growing-finishing pig diets on growth, carcass traits, and carcass fat quality. In Exp. 1, 288 pigs (average initial BW = 46.6 kg) were used in an 84-d experiment with pens of pigs randomly allotted to 1 of 4 treatments with 8 pigs per pen and 9 pens per treatment. Treatments included a corn-soybean meal-based control, the control with 30% DDGS, the DDGS diet with 10% midds, or the DDGS diet with 20% midds. Diets were fed in 4 phases and formulated to constant standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys:ME ratios within each phase. Overall (d 0 to 84), pigs fed diets containing increasing midds had decreased (linear, P ≤ 0.02) ADG and G:F, but ADFI was not affected. Feeding 30% DDGS did not influence growth. For carcass traits, increasing midds decreased (linear, P < 0.01) carcass yield and HCW but also decreased (quadratic, P = 0.02) backfat depth and increased (quadratic, P < 0.01) fat-free lean index (FFLI). Feeding 30% DDGS decreased (P = 0.03) carcass yield and backfat depth (P < 0.01) but increased FFLI (P = 0.02) and jowl fat iodine value (P < 0.01). In Exp. 2, 288 pigs (initial BW = 42.3 kg) were used in an 87-d experiment with pens of pigs randomly allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments with 8 pigs per pen and 6 pens per treatment. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with 2 amounts of midds (0 or 20%) and 3 amounts of CWG (0, 2.5, or 5.0%). All diets contained 15% DDGS. Diets were fed in 4 phases and formulated to constant SID Lys:ME ratios in each phase. No CWG × midds interactions were observed. Overall (d 0 to 87), feeding 20% midds decreased (P < 0.01) ADG and G:F. Pigs increasing CWG had improved ADG (quadratic, P = 0.03) and G:F (linear, P < 0.01). Dietary midds or CWG did not affect ADFI. For carcass traits, feeding 20% midds decreased (P < 0.05) carcass yield, HCW, backfat depth, and loin depth but increased (P < 0.01) jowl fat iodine value. Pigs fed CWG had decreased (linear, P < 0.05) FFLI and increased (linear, P < 0.01) jowl fat iodine value. In conclusion, feeding midds reduced pig growth performance, carcass yield, and increased jowl fat iodine value. Although increasing diet energy with CWG can help mitigate negative effects on live performance, CWG did not eliminate negative impacts of midds on carcass yield, HCW, and jowl fat iodine value.