Clostridium butyricum as probiotic for promoting growth performance,feed utilization,gut health and microbiota community of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus)

The feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the potentials of Clostridium butyricum in the diet of tilapia. Fish (~14 g) were fed with basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control), 0.5 (C‐1), 1 (C‐2), 2 (C‐3), 4 (C‐4) and 8 (C‐5) g/kg commercial probiotic‐containing C. butyricum (1.5 × 10⁸ CFU/g) for 8 weeks. The results showed that weight gain significantly increased, and feed conversion ratio decreased in the C‐2, C‐3 and C‐4 groups (p < .05). The protein retention (except C‐1 group), lipid retention and apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter in probiotic supplementation groups were significantly enhanced, and ADC of protein in the C‐4 group was also improved (p < .05). The supplementation of probiotic significantly increased villus height in anterior intestines and reduced the numbers of intestinal Escherichia coli (p < .05). High‐throughput sequencing showed that top three phyla namely Planctomycetes in all probiotic‐containing groups, Proteobacteria in the C‐1 and C‐2 groups and Chloroflexi in the C‐3 group had higher level than the NC group. The cumulative mortality was reduced by dietary probiotic after challenging with Aeromonas hydrophila (p < .05). In conclusion, C. butyricum can be supplemented at 1–2 g/kg feed for promoting the growth, feed utilization, gut health and microbiota of tilapia.     

金华猪和长白猪粪便微生物移植小鼠的肠道古菌结构分析

本试验旨在比较肥胖型的金华猪和瘦肉型的长白猪肠道古菌结构的差异,分析菌群移植小鼠肠道古菌结构。采集金华猪和长白猪的新鲜粪便,通过灌胃移植到经广谱抗生素处理过的小鼠肠道中,提取2种猪粪便及其移植小鼠的盲肠内容物总基因组DNA,使用古菌通用引物对古菌16S rRNA的V4区进行PCR扩增,通过Illumina Hiseq测序平台对扩增产物进行高通量测序,使用QIIME等软件对测序序列进行分析统计。结果表明:金华猪和长白猪粪便及其移植小鼠盲肠内容物中的古菌主要包含3个门,分别为奇古菌门(Thaumarchaeota)、广古菌门(Euryarchaeota)和泉古菌门(Crenarchaeota),其中金华猪粪便中广古菌门的丰度高于长白猪;在属水平上主要包含4个已知属,优势属为餐古菌属(Cenarchaeum)。二者移植小鼠的盲肠内容物古菌结构,在门水平上,移植小鼠的奇古菌门比例占70%以上;奇古菌门的古菌几乎全部来源于餐古菌属;在门和属的水平上,金华猪和长白猪粪便移植小鼠的盲肠古菌结构无显著差异(P0.05),但基于操作分类单元(OTU)水平的主成分分析显示出很好的组内聚集。由此可见,奇古菌门的餐古菌属是金华猪和长白猪粪便和其移植小鼠盲肠中的优势古菌;金华猪粪便中广古菌门的丰度高于长白猪粪便,且二者移植小鼠盲肠内容物之间古菌结构在OTU水平上存在一定的差异。     

浒苔多酚对肥胖小鼠血脂代谢及肠道菌群的调节作用

为了研究浒苔多酚(Enteromorpha prolifera polyphenols, EPP)对高脂饮食诱导小鼠肥胖的预防作用,将24只C57BL/6J小鼠分为4组,即空白对照组、模型对照组、低剂量浒苔多酚处理组(100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1)以及高剂量浒苔多酚处理组(300 mg·kg^-1·d^-1),连续灌胃14周,考察不同剂量浒苔多酚干预对肥胖小鼠生理生化指标以及肠道菌群数量和结构的影响。结果表明,EPP能抑制肥胖小鼠体重增长,降低血清中总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇浓度(LDL-C)、丙二醛(MDA)、谷草转氨酶(AST)和谷丙转氨酶(ALT)浓度,增加高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)浓度,提高超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)以及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性。此外,EPP干预可提高有益菌如拟杆菌属(Bacteroides)、艾克曼菌属(Akkermansia)及副杆菌属(Parabacteroides)的相对丰度,促进短链脂肪酸(SCFAs)分泌;降低有害菌如瘤胃球菌属(Ruminococcaceae)及颤螺菌属(Oscillospira)的相对丰度。因此,浒苔多酚作为功能性食品成分能够减轻高脂饮食诱导的小鼠肥胖症状。本研究为浒苔多酚作为海洋资源的开发与利用提供了理论依据与数据支撑。     

口服急性毒性试验中Cry1C蛋白对鼠肠道菌群的影响

利用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)分析不同ICR(institute of cancer researcch)小鼠在口服急性毒性试验中摄入Cry1C蛋白前后其肠道菌群的变化,进而对该抗虫蛋白的食用安全性进行较为深入的研究.DGGE图谱经UPGAMA聚类分析显示:小鼠间菌群结构存在较明显的个体差异;实验期间,对照组小鼠灌胃前后其菌群基本保持稳定;实验组小鼠试验前后肠道菌群变化差异较对照组明显.随着灌胃的停止其变化差异在经历过高峰后会随着停喂时间的延长而减小,且菌相有逐渐恢复灌胃前结构的趋势.从肠道菌相的角度分析可知:该抗虫Cry1C蛋白对小鼠是基本安全的.     

The Application of Microbiome Culturomics in Veterinary Medicine

Under laboratory conditions, the number of cultured microorganisms accounts for about 1% of the total number of microorganisms in nature, which limits people's understanding and utilization of 99% of the unknown microorganisms. However, relevant researches show that those "uncultured microorganisms" can be developed and utilized, and the uncultured microorganisms are the main body of the unknown microorganisms. The microbial culturomics explored the application of multiple culture conditions and long-term culture, it was combined with Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing to identify all kinds of microorganisms on a large scale. At the same time, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and Metagenomics sequencing technology were used to analyze unknown microorganisms in depth. In this paper, the latest progress of culturomics in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract, poultry cecum, and livestock nasal microflora in recent years was reviewed, and the feasibility of applying the method of microflora culturomics in animal disease prevention and control was discussed. As a new research idea, culturomics has some immature aspects, but its development prospect is very broad. The complementary of microflora culturomics and other research methods have gradually become a breakthrough in the development of veterinary microbiology.     

Acquired antimicrobial resistance in the intestinal microbiota of diverse cat populations

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of acquired antimicrobial resistance in the resident intestinal microbiota of cats and to identify significant differences between various cat populations. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium and Streptococcus canis were isolated as faecal indicator bacteria from rectal swabs of 47 individually owned cats, 47 cattery cats and 18 hospitalised cats, and submitted through antimicrobial sensitivity tests. The results revealed that bacteria isolated from hospitalised and/or cattery cats were more frequently resistant than those from individually owned cats. E. coli isolates from hospitalised cats were particularly resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and sulfonamide. Both enterococci and streptococci showed high resistance to tetracycline and in somewhat lesser extent to erythromycin and tylosin. Most E. faecium isolates were resistant to lincomycin and penicillin. One E. faecalis as well as one E. faecium isolate from hospitalised cats showed 'high-level resistance' (MIC > 500 microg/ml) against gentamicin, a commonly used antimicrobial agent in case of human enterococcal infections. The results of this research demonstrate that the extent of acquired antimicrobial resistance in the intestinal microbiota of cats depends on the social environment of the investigated population. It is obvious that the flora of healthy cats may act as a reservoir of resistance genes.     

溶葡萄球菌素对小鼠肠道菌群结构的影响

【目的】研究溶葡萄球菌素对小鼠肠道菌群结构的影响,为溶葡萄球菌素的食用安全性评估提供参考。【方法】将24只7周龄ICR小鼠随机分为3个试验组和对照组,3个试验组分别提供溶葡萄球菌素含量为1 μg/mL（低剂量）、5 μg/mL（中剂量）和15 μg/mL（高剂量）的饮水10 mL/(只·d),于饮用第0(饮用前),1,3,7,14,21天以及停饮第3,7,14天采集小鼠新鲜粪便样品,采用PCRDGGE技术检测小鼠肠道菌群结构变化。【结果】DGGE图谱显示,各组小鼠试验前后不同时间肠道内的优势菌种相似;经UPGMA聚类分析,与对照组相比,低、中剂量溶葡萄球菌素对小鼠肠道菌群结构影响较小,高剂量溶葡萄球菌素对小鼠肠道菌群结构影响较大;差异性分析结果显示,试验组饮用各阶段带谱与试验前的相似性与对照组相应阶段的相似性差异均不显著（P＞0.05）,溶葡萄球菌素低、中和高剂量组在停饮后第7天带谱与饮用前的相似性分别达到了70.8%,66.9%和63.8%;对图谱中主要条带进行测序和比对分析,结果表明,高剂量溶葡萄球菌素对小鼠肠道中Lactobacillus taiwanensis和1株不可培养细菌有促进作用。【结论】溶葡萄球菌素对小鼠肠道菌群结构的改变具有浓度依赖性,且停饮后小鼠肠道菌群结构有一定程度的恢复。     

Constraints using the liquid fraction from roadside grass as a bio-based fertilizer

Background

Roadside grass cuttings are currently considered a waste product due to their association with road sweepings as contaminated waste, therefore, their potential as a biofertilizer is understudied.

Aim

This study aimed to determine whether grass liquid fraction (GLF) collected from a roadside verge in Maldegem, Belgium, and pressed using a screw press was suitable as a biofertilizer.

Methods

The characterization of the heavy metal content of the GLF was conducted using an ICP-OES. From May to September 2019, a pot experiment was set up using a randomized block design to compare tomato plant growth, yield, and nutrition for GLF-treated plants to two commercial fertilizers and tap water as a control.

Results

The heavy metal content of the GLF was below the maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) for organic fertilizers as set out by the European Comission fertilizer regulation 1069/2009 and 1107/2009 (European Comission, 2019). However, despite having a fairly well-balanced nutrient content (0.1% N, 0.04% P₂O₅, and 0.2% K₂O), GLF had a negative effect on the growth, root weight, and yield of the tomato plants, killing six out of ten plants. GLF also promoted mold growth in the soil of some plants. Since the GLF was uncontaminated, heavy metal toxicity did not cause the negative effect.

Conclusions

Previous research showed that liquid fractions from some plants negatively affect the growth of others due to allelopathic chemicals; this, together with the stimulation of fungal growth, could have caused the negative effects observed. Future experiments will investigate the herbicidal property of GLF and possible treatments to potentially recover the nutrients contained within the GLF for application as a biofertilizer.