In vitro susceptibility of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae to organic acids and essential oil components

The antibacterial potential of organic acids and essential oil components against Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, the causative pathogen of swine dysentery, was evaluated. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 15 compounds were determined at pH 7.2 and pH 6.0, using a broth microdilution assay. In addition, possible synergism was determined. MIC values for the three tested strains were similar. For organic acids, MIC values at pH 6.0 were lower than at pH 7.2. B. hyodysenteriae was most sensitive to cinnamaldehyde and lauric acid, with MIC values <1.5 mM. Most antibacterial effects of binary combinations were additive, however, for thymol and carvacrol, synergism could be observed. In vitro results demonstrate the antibacterial action of certain essential oil components and organic acids against B. hyodysenteriae.     

接种沙门氏菌苗可使新生雏鸡和强制换羽母鸡得到免疫保护

过去人们常认为,由于刚出壳雏鸡的免疫系统尚未发育成熟,同时肠道内缺乏有益的微生物,因而处于高度的敏感期,此时接种沙门氏菌苗产生的保护作用很有限。然而,最新的研究表明,在这些敏感期接种疫苗,可诱发产生保护作用。     

Maize defence mechanisms against the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Maize is arguably the most widely grown crop in the world, but it is often associated with one of its major insect pests, the European corn borer (ECB). The damage caused by this species to maize production is generally variable, but in many cases it is economically significant. This review paper provides an overview of the research findings on the natural plant defence mechanisms against ECB larvae published till now. What is resistance and how it is achieved, what is the chemical response of maize plants to insect feeding and how tolerance can be increased. A short introduction in breeding for resistance and a discussion if the mentioned traits can be used in conventional breeding in order to create maize hybrids less affected by ECB are given.     

Thermal and spectrophotometric analysis of some fungal melanins and soil humic compounds

Seven types of fungal melanins were compared with humic compounds from chernozem and podzol soils and with commercial humic acid. The results indicate some similarities but also distinct differences between the melanins and humic substances in spectral characteristics in the UV and visible regions and in their resistance to thermal degradation.     

Effect of montmorillonite and humate on growth and metabolic activity of some actinomycetes

In well-aerated culture solutions Ca-montmorillonite at 0.25% concentration markedly accelerated and increased growth, glucose consumption and CO₂ evolution by various Streptomyces, Micromonospora and Nocardia species. The montmorillonite was a little more active than Ca-humate and was usually still but somewhat less effective when confined to dialysis tubing. Ca-exchange resin, Na₂SiO₃ and finely powdered CaCO₃ exerted very little or no effect. In many cultures the relation of glucose consumption to biomass formation indicated a more efficient use of the glucose C for cell synthesis in the presence of clay. In other cultures the greater biomass formation was associated with a more rapid and complete utilization of the glucose present.     

Biology of leptin in the pig

The recently discovered protein, leptin, which is secreted by fat cells in response to changes in body weight or energy, has been implicated in regulation of feed intake, energy expenditure and the neuroendocrine axis in rodents and humans. Leptin was first identified as the gene product found deficient in the obese ob/ob mouse. Administration of leptin to ob/ob mice led to improved reproduction as well as reduced feed intake and weight loss. The porcine leptin receptor has been cloned and is a member of the class 1 cytokine family of receptors. Leptin has been implicated in the regulation of immune function and the anorexia associated with disease. The leptin receptor is localized in the brain and pituitary of the pig. The leptin response to acute inflammation is uncoupled from anorexia and is differentially regulated among swine genotypes. In vitro studies demonstrated that the leptin gene is expressed by porcine preadipocytes and leptin gene expression is highly dependent on dexamethasone induced preadipocyte differentiation. Hormonally driven preadipocyte recruitment and subsequent fat cell size may regulate leptin gene expression in the pig. Expression of CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) mediates insulin dependent preadipocyte leptin gene expression during lipid accretion. In contrast, insulin independent leptin gene expression may be maintained by C/EBP auto-activation and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation. Adipogenic hormones may increase adipose tissue leptin gene expression in the fetus indirectly by inducing preadipocyte recruitment and subsequent differentiation. Central administration of leptin to pigs suppressed feed intake and stimulated growth hormone (GH) secretion. Serum leptin concentrations increased with age and estradiol-induced leptin mRNA expression in fat was age and weight dependent in prepuberal gilts. This occurred at the time of expected puberty in intact contemporaries and was associated with greater LH secretion. Further work demonstrated that leptin acts directly on pituitary cells to enhance LH and GH secretion, and brain tissue to stimulate gonadotropin releasing hormone secretion. Thus, development of nutritional schemes and (or) gene therapy to manipulate leptin secretion will lead to practical methods of controlling appetite, growth and reproduction in farm animals, thereby increasing efficiency of lean meat production.     

Effects of N-methyl-D, L-aspartate on secretion of growth hormone-releasing hormone from the boar hypothalamic-preoptic area and median eminence in vitro

N-methyl-D, L-aspartate (NMA) elicited secretion of growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone from both the hypothalamic-preoptic area and the median eminence that were collected from boars. We suggest that the previously described increase in GH secretion that follows peripheral treatment of swine with NMA is attributable, at least in part, to NMA-stimulated secretion of GH-releasing hormone from the central nervous system.