Partial replacement of soybean meal with Methylobacterium extorquens single‐cell protein in feeds for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum)

A feeding trial was conducted with juvenile rainbow trout (15–16 g initial weight) to assess the effects of including single‐cell protein (SCP) produced from Methylobacterium extorquens in trout feeds. Three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were produced: a control diet and two experimental diets containing 5% or 10% bacterial protein meal replacing soybean meal. Triplicate tanks, each containing 35 fish, were fed each diet to apparent satiation in a constant‐temperature (15°C), flow‐through tank system for 12 weeks. No statistically significant differences in final fish weight or other fish growth parameters were observed. Similarly, feed efficiency parameters showed no significant differences among groups. Nutrient retention indices (protein, fat, energy) were relatively high and similar among fish in each dietary treatment group, as were whole body proximate compositions. Fish survival was high, with a small but statistically significant increase for the 10% SCP diet. Overall, results demonstrate that SCP from M. extorquens is a safe and effective alternative protein for rainbow trout diets at the low inclusion levels tested. Slightly lower weight gain in fish fed the 10% SCP diet was largely due to lower feed intake, suggesting that adding palatability‐enhancing ingredients to feeds may allow higher levels of M. extorquens SCP to be used without compromising fish growth.     

Partial replacement of fishmeal with corn gluten meal,pea protein isolate and their mixture in diet of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) juveniles: Effects on growth performance,feed utilization and haematological parameters

Corn gluten meal (CGM), pea protein isolate (PPI) and their mixture (CPP, 1:1 ratio) were evaluated as fishmeal (FM) alternatives in black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) juveniles (9.02 ± 0.12 g). A FM diet was designed as control, and other six diets had 20% and 40% FM protein replaced by CGM, PPI and CPP, respectively, with the supplementation of crystalline methionine, arginine and lysine. After the 8‐week feeding trial, significantly lower weight gain was found in fish fed the 40% CGM diet (p < .05), whereas other treatments had no statistical difference (p > .05). The values of feed efficiency ratio and feed intake, as well as proximate compositions of muscle and whole body, were not significantly influenced in all treatments. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein, threonine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and lysine were significantly influenced by protein source. Fish fed the 40% CGM diet had significantly higher content of essential amino acid in muscle than that of the 20% PPI diet. Fish fed the 40% CGM diet had significantly lower content of serum cholesterol than other treatments (p < .05). Elevated serum superoxide dismutase activity was found in fish fed the 40% plant protein diets. In conclusion, between 20% and 40% FM protein could be replaced by CGM, while about 40% FM protein derived from PPI and CPP could be applied in black sea bream.     

Potential bioavailability of protein and lipids in feed ingredients for the three‐spot cichlid Amphilophus trimaculatus: An in vitro assessment

For the commercial culture of the three‐spot cichlid (Amphilophus trimaculatus), it is important to have available a set of protein and lipid ingredients suitable for feed manufacturing, which allow to optimize the culture at affordable costs. The in vitro digestibility was evaluated with pH‐stat technique, using stomach and intestine multi‐enzymatic extracts from A. trimaculatus juveniles. The digestion of protein ingredients was taken place both in acid and in alkaline conditions, quantifying the total of free amino acids at the end of the hydrolysis, whereas the digestion of lipid ingredients was taken place only in alkaline conditions. The digestive enzymes of this species showed a better affinity to raw materials of animal origin such as beef meal, fish meal and premium chicken meal, which presented better digestibility. The best lipid ingredient that could be used is the fish oil. However, it is possible to use ingredients from the plant sources, such as soy or cereals, and vegetable oils such as olive, corn or soy oil. It is necessary to complement this study in vitro with the digestibility analysis in vivo, in order to determine the inclusion percentages in feeds and costs and therefore to develop an efficient feed formulation for the aquaculture of A. trimaculatus.     

WSSV envelope protein VP51B links structural protein complexes and may mediate virus infection

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), an enveloped double‐stranded DNA virus, is the causative agent of a disease that has led to severe mortalities of cultured shrimps in Taiwan and many other countries. In the previous study, Penaeus monodon chitin‐binding protein (CBP) and glucose transporter 1 (Glut1), two cell membrane proteins, were found to at least interact with other 10 WSSV envelope proteins including VP51B. These envelope proteins might form a protein complex. According to the known information, VP51B was used to identify its role in the protein complex. Western blotting of the intact viral particles and fractionation of the viral components confirmed that VP51B is one of WSSV envelope proteins. In this study, the protein–protein interaction between VP51B and other WSSV envelope proteins was identified by far‐western blot experiment and VP51B was found to interact with VP24, VP31, VP32, VP39B and VP41A. Furthermore, the in vivo neutralization experiment using recombinant VP51B plus with VP39B showed the best inhibition. These data indicate that VP51B participates in the WSSV protein complex and plays an important role in WSSV infection.     

Evaluation of pea proteins and poultry protein as fish meal alternatives in the diets for juvenile black sea bream,Acanthopagrus schlegelii

The potential of three different protein resources (pea protein isolate, PPI; pea protein concentrate, PPC; enzyme treated poultry protein, ETPP) as fish meal (FM) alternative protein in diets for juvenile black sea bream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii. (initial average weight 7.90 ± 0.13 g) was evaluated. Seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to replace FM at 0% (T0, control diet), 8% (designated as T1‐T3) and 16% (designated as T4‐T6) using PPI, PPC and ETPP respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 juvenile fish for 8 weeks. At the end of the feeding period, survival rate was not significantly affected by dietary treatments. Growth performance in T6 (16% ETPP) group was significantly inferior to T0 group, however, weight gain and specific growth rate in other treatments showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). Mean feed intake, feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio were also poorer in fish fed in T6 than those of fish fed with the control diet respectively. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter and crude protein for fish fed ETPP diets were significant lower than those of fish fed with the control diet, whereas ADCs of lipid were unaffected by dietary treatments. ADC's of dietary Leu, Ile, His and Lys was also significantly influenced. There were no marked variations in proximate compositions of dorsal muscle. With regard to plasma characteristics, significant difference was observed in triacylglycerol content. Ammonia concentration in plasma tended to increase in alternative protein diets as substitution level increased. There were significant differences in aspartate aminotransferase activities among groups, but alanine aminotransferase levels were unaffected by treatments. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that PPI and PPC were potential protein sources for using in juvenile black sea bream diet. However, the substitution level of FM by ETPP should be limited within 16%.     

Pearl grafting: Tracking the biological origin of nuclei by straightforward immunological methods

French Polynesia is renowned for the production of Tahitian black pearl. These gems are obtained by grafting a nucleus into the gonad of a receiving oyster together with a graft, i.e. a small section of mantle tissue of a donor oyster. This procedure initiates the formation of a pearl sack around the nucleus, and subsequently, the deposition of concentric layers of nacre. The nucleus plays a key‐role in pearl formation and its characteristics influence markedly the quality of the final product. As it is manufactured from mollusc shells, it contains a small percentage of organics. In the present paper, we used a set of biochemical techniques to characterize and compare the organic matrices from two types of nuclei that are currently used in French Polynesia: that from the freshwater mussel Amblema sp., and that from the pearl oyster Pinctada sp. To this end, we extracted the matrices from nuclei and performed FT‐IR, monodimensional electrophoresis, and enzyme‐linked immuno‐sorbent assay (ELISA). Our data show that the matrix associated with Amblema nuclei has a very different biochemical signature from that of Pinctada nuclei, a fact that may explain the improved tolerance of grafted oysters to nuclei of Pinctada origin. In the absence of complex physical methods of investigation, simple immunological techniques and FT‐IR performed on the extracted organic matrix are extremely reliable and effective for discriminating nuclei from these two sources. We assert that such techniques can be used as a diagnostic test to track unambiguously the biological origin of nuclei to avoid fraud.     

黄河三角洲暗管排水土工布外包滤料的试验研究

黄河三角洲地区多为近代黄河泥沙淤积形成的粉细砂土,其质地均一、结构松散,在农田排水明沟建设中边坡不稳定的问题突出。近年来该地区大力开展了暗管排水系统建设,但当地砂滤料来源不足,因此,迫切需要筛选出适合当地土壤特点的土工布外包滤料。该文在对研究区土壤特性分析的基础上,利用自制水力渗透仪,通过理论计算和渗透试验观测,研究了所选择土工布的反滤、透水以及防淤堵性能。结果发现,在满足测试条件的2种型号土工布中,Typar 3201G能够满足防淤堵与透水要求,但是有一定的淤堵风险;另一型号土工布(Typar SF20)则能较好的满足研究区暗管排水外包滤料的反滤、透水与防淤堵要求。研究结果表明,满足研究区特殊土壤类型的土工布外包滤料厚度不宜过大,土工布的开孔直径应符合选择标准。研究成果可为黄河三角洲地区暗管排水土工布外包滤料的选择提供技术支撑。     

高毒力苏云金杆菌CAB109菌株的蛋白质特性及其田间防效

对甜菜夜蛾等害虫具有高毒力的苏云金杆菌CAB109菌株进行生物学特性调查结果表明,CAB109菌株的伴孢晶体具有典型的菱形结构;其原毒素蛋白的分子量为133kDa,经胰蛋白酶处理后水解为66kDa的活性毒素蛋白．DNA凝胶电泳显示：CAB19菌株的质粒DNA与同样H,血清型的已知HD-133菌株不同．CAB109菌株对葱田甜菜夜蛾的平均防效达75．3％,高于常用化学农药和微生物农药的防效;平均挽回损失率也达26．0%表现出优良的开发潜力．     

适宜物理-酶联合改性提高酸性条件下大豆分离蛋白乳化性

为提高酸性条件下大豆分离蛋白（soy protein isolates,SPI）的乳化性能,该文研究了物理-酶联合改性对SPI（pH值为4）的乳化性能影响,通过对比确定了物理-酶联合改性,即超声波-酶复合改性和挤压膨化-酶复合改性两种改性方法在酸性条件下的乳化性能效果最好;并通过对改性后 SPI（pH 值为4）进行溶解性、游离巯基、二硫键、粒径、扫描电镜（scanning electron microscope,SEM）和激光共焦扫描显微镜（confocal laser scanning microscopy,CLSM）分析,从蛋白结构变化上进一步揭示了乳化性能提高现象的原因。结果表明：超声波联合植酸酶-酸性蛋白酶改性的 SPI （Uphy-aci-SPI）的乳化活性（emulsifying activity index,EAI）为0.53 m2/g,比未改性SPI（0.18 m2/g）显著提高了196%（P<0.05）,乳化稳定性（emulsifying stability index,ESI）为17 min,比未改性SPI（13.5 min）显著提高了25.9%（P<0.05）;挤压膨化联合菠萝蛋白酶改性的SPI（Ebro-SPI）的EAI为0.46 m2/g,比未改性SPI显著增加了155%（P<0.05）,ESI为17 min,比未改性SPI显著增加了25.9%（P<0.05）。在pH值为4的条件下对物理-酶联合改性的SPI的性质分析发现,物理-酶联合改性的SPI与未改性SPI相比,物理-酶联合改性的SPI的溶解性显著增加（P<0.05）;物理-酶联合改性的SPI的乳状液平均粒径减小,CLSM观察乳状液中油与蛋白溶液稳定共融,改善了油滴之间的空间排斥力。物理-酶联合改性的SPI游离巯基的含量显著增加（P<0.05）,二硫键含量显著降低（P<0.05）。SEM观察物理-酶联合改性的SPI为结构松散、破碎均一的微观结构。由此可见,乳化性能的提高是通过深层改变蛋白的结构来实现的。该研究可为探索提高酸性条件下SPI的乳化性能的方法提供理论依据。     

The solubilization of myofibrillar proteins of vertebrate skeletal muscle in water

Myofibrillar proteins of vertebrate skeletal muscles are insoluble in solutions of ionic strength that approximate physiological conditions. We established a method to solubilize more than 80% of chicken breast muscle myofibrillar proteins in water for the use of meat as a source of food protein. SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of water‐soluble myofibrillar proteins demonstrated that all identified myofibrillar proteins except connectin/titin were soluble in water. A part of α‐actinin was released from myofibrils by repeated washing with 2.5 mmol/L NaCl and 5 mmol/L L‐histidine solution, and subsequent destruction of connectin/titin in washed myofibrils by ultrasonication resulted in solubilization of a large fraction of chicken breast muscle myofibrillar proteins in water. Myofibrillar proteins of chicken leg, pork loin, beef shoulder loin, and lamb were also solubilized in water using this procedure.