Dietary probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici MA18/5M modulates the intestinal microbiota and stimulates intestinal immunity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

A study was conducted to evaluate the probiotic effect of Pediococcus acidilactici MA18/5M on rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Fish (310 ± 9 g) were fed a control diet or a P. acidilactici‐supplemented diet (at 2.4 × 10⁶ CFU/g) for 4 weeks. The probiotic was observed to populate the intestine with levels ranging from log 3.7 to 5.4 CFU/g. Furthermore, these populations were able to persist for at least 24 hr after the cessation of probiotic feeding. High‐throughput sequencing analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA libraries demonstrated that P. acidilactici was able to modulate the gut microbiome of rainbow trout and that the probiotic was detected as a common taxon on the mucosa and in the digesta of the probiotic fish (p < .05). Real‐time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that feeding the probiotic upregulated pro‐inflammatory cytokines, interleukin‐1β, and interleukin‐8 and downregulated anti‐inflammatory interleukin‐10 compared to the control‐fed fish. Furthermore, the mRNA levels for the mucosal antibody immunoglobulin T was also elevated in probiotic‐fed fish. These findings help to explain some of the mechanisms behind the previously reported observed benefits of using this probiotic in the intestinal morphology and immunity of rainbow trout.     

Isoflavone glycitein diminished plasma cholesterol in female golden Syrian hamsters

The soybean isoflavones, daidzein, genistein, and glycitein, were hypothesized to act as cholesterol-lowering components, separate from soy protein. Pure synthetic daidzein, genistein, or glycitein (0.9 mmol/kg diet) or a casein-based control diet was fed to groups of 10 female Golden Syrian hamsters for 4 weeks. Hamsters fed glycitein had significantly lower plasma total (by 15%) and non-HDL (by 24%) cholesterol compared with those fed casein (P<0.05). Daidzein and genistein's effects on these lipids did not differ from the effects of either casein or glycitein. Plasma HDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were not significantly affected by dietary treatments. The percentage of urinary recovery of the ingested dose of each isoflavone was glycitein>daidzein>genistein (33.2%, 4.6%, 2.2%, respectively), with the apparent absorption of glycitein significantly greater than that of the other isoflavones. These data suggest that glycitein's greater cholesterol-lowering effect was due to its greater bioavailability, as reflected in its urinary recovery compared with that of the other isoflavones.     

Occurrence of naphtho-gamma-pyrones- and ochratoxin A-producing fungi in French grapes and characterization of new naphtho-gamma-pyrone polyketide (aurasperone G) isolated from Aspergillus niger C-433

A survey on the occurrence on grape of fungi species in 2001 and their capability to produce ochratoxin A (OTA) and naphtho-gamma-pyrones (NGPs) was conducted in different vineyards from several French viticulture regions. The total numbers of fungal isolates, from setting to harvest, were 732. The Aspergillus genus was essentially represented by section Nigri (98.53%) and it was predominant (74.72%) when compared to Penicillium (25.27%). Approximately one third (30.46%) of the fungal isolates were OTA producers, and 94.17% belong to black aspergilli; Aspergillus carbonarius was the main OTA producer. Moreover, 8.33% of isolates (belong to A. carbonarius and A. niger) were NGP producers. However, none of the Penicillium spp. or other Aspergillus spp. isolates can produces NGP derivatives under the conditions used. No other study on NGPs production by fungi isolated from grapes has been reported. In the second part, a novel NGP, named aurasperone G (1), was isolated from the fermentation broth of the culture extracts of Aspergillus niger C-433, strain producer of OTA, along with the known compound aurasperone F (2). The chemical structure of the new polyketide was proposed based on complete (1)H and partial (13)C, COSY, HMQC, 1D NOE NMR spectra as well as UV and MS spectra. This new NGP was not reported before in nature or prepared synthetically.     

Tolerance of two Bifora radians Bieb populations to ALS inhibitors in winter wheat

BACKGROUND: Bifora radians, an annual weed in winter wheat, is distributed mainly in the Mediterranean area, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. It infests winter-sown crops of the Central Anatolia and Middle Black Sea regions of Turkey. Field experiments in heavily B. radians-infested fields were conducted over 3 years in Samsun, Turkey, to determine the response of B. radians to ALS-inhibiting herbicides, because growers had complained of a decrease in herbicide effect. RESULTS: The efficacy of ALS inhibitors on a putatively tolerant population sprayed annually with ALS inhibitors and an adjacent allegedly sensitive population was estimated at the ED₅₀ and ED₉₀ response levels. The recommended rates of herbicides controlled 90% of the weed (ED₉₀) in the sensitive population at the early stage of B. radians development, but not in the tolerant population. The relative potencies (ED_x(tolerant)/ED_x(sensitive)) of herbicides on the two populations were estimated by assuming years as being random effects. The relative potency was on average about 1.7, irrespective of the ED_x levels. CONCLUSION: Although the relative potencies were not large, they were large enough to be noted by growers. In field experiments it would be important to establish tools demonstrating when farmers recognise loss of herbicide efficacy. There has been no indication of evolution of resistant biotypes so far, but continuous spraying favours biotypes with increased levels of tolerance. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of a linseed diet or a sunflower diet on performances, fatty acid composition, lipogenic enzyme activities and stearoyl-CoA-desaturase activity in the pig

The aim of this study was to compare the influence of a high α-linolenic acid (ALA) diet (linseed diet) and a high linoleic acid (LA) diet (sunflower diet) on performances of pigs, on the dietetical quality of their tissues (adipose tissues and muscles), and on the lipogenic potential of these tissues. Growth and carcass performances, and the lipid content of the tissues were not affected by the diet. Feeding the linseed diet increased the content of n-3 PUFA and decreased the LA/ALA ratios in all the tissues, while the sunflower diet led to an increase in the n-6 PUFA contents. Neither the stearoyl-CoA-desaturase and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase activities nor the β-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase activity were affected by the diet. Acetyl-CoA-carboxylase and fatty acid synthase activities were enhanced with the linseed diet in respectively subcutaneous adipose tissue and intermuscular adipose tissue, while malic enzyme activity was decreased in liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue of pigs fed the linseed diet.     

Utilization of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to quantify the impact of earthworms on soil and carbon erosion in steep slope ecosystem: A study case in Northern Vietnam

This work focuses on a new approach to quantify the effects of above-ground earthworm's activity on soil erosion in steep slope ecosystems such as in Northern Vietnam. In these areas and in many others in the world, soil erosion becomes a major issue while the factors that determine it are still misunderstood. Earthworm's activity is believed to influence soil erosion rate, but we are still unable to precisely quantify their contribution to soil erosion. In this study, we used Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) to quantify the proportion of soil aggregate in eroded soil coming from earthworm activity. This was done by generating NIRS signatures corresponding to different soil surface aggregates (above-ground soil casts produced by earthworms vs. surrounding topsoil).     

Taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy in a family of golden retrievers

A reversible taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy occurred in five related golden retrievers. An apical systolic heart murmur was the most common physical abnormality. According to fractional shortening and end-systolic diameter on echocardiography, significant improvements (P<0.005) were recorded within 3 to 6 months of starting taurine supplementation. The dogs regained substantial systolic function, and four were weaned off all cardiac medications except taurine. This response to therapy was unusual, because canine dilated cardiomyopathy is generally progressive and fatal.     

Indoor activity of Culicoides associated with livestock in the bluetongue virus (BTV) affected region of northern France during autumn 2006

In August 2006, bluetongue virus (BTV) was detected in the Netherlands, Belgium, western Germany, Luxembourg and northern France for the first time. Consequently, a longitudinal entomological study was conducted in the affected region of northern France (Ardennes) throughout the autumn of 2006. Data on the spatio-temporal distribution of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) associated with livestock were collected and an attempt was made to identify the vector(s) involved in BTV transmission by means of virus detection in wild-caught biting midges. Weekly sampling using standardized Onderstepoort-type blacklight traps were performed simultaneously both outdoors and indoors in one BTV-free and three BTV-affected farms between September and December 2006. Culicoides were sorted according to farm, location (outdoors vs. indoors), time point (in weeks), species and physiological stage. BTV detection was conducted by RT-PCR on monospecific pools of non-bloodfed parous female Culicoides. The principal results showed: (i) the absence of the Mediterranean vector, C. imicola, (ii) the relatively low abundance of C. dewulfi and C. pulicaris, (iii) the widespread occurrence and abundance of C. obsoletus/C. scoticus with longevity and behaviour compatible with BTV transmission, and (iv) all Culicoides pools tested for BTV were negative. In France, the very low levels of BTV-8 circulation were probably due to the limited introduction of the virus from affected neighbouring countries, and not due to the absence of local vector populations. A key finding has been the substantiation, for the first time, that Culicoides, and particularly the potential vectors C. obsoletus/C. scoticus and C. dewulfi, can be active at night inside livestock buildings and not only outside, as originally believed. The endophagic tendencies of members of the Obsoletus group are discussed in light of the prolonged period of BTV transmission during the autumn of 2006 and the risk of BTV overwintering and resurgence in the spring of 2007. Overall, there is an urgent need to improve our knowledge on the ecology of local Culicoides species before any clear, effective and reliable recommendations can be provided to the veterinary authorities in terms of prevention and control.