Preparation on the basis of Trichoderma asperellum in the system of biological protection of wheat from Fusarium ear scab

During the last century, as the area of wheat grown under advanced grain husbandry has increased worldwide, so too has the importance of Fusarium ear scab (FES) (synonym, Fusarium head blight) caused by several species of the fungus Fusarium. Yield losses due to FES can total 20%-40% and more depending on climatic conditions. During the last twenty years epidemics of FES in cereals have become chronic all over the world, including the United States and Russia. The most destructive of these were observed in 1982, 1986, 1990-1996 in USA and in the south of Russia in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1992. The harmful effect of FES is manifested not only in reduced grain yields, but also in the contamination of grains and grain products with mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivatives (3-alfa acetyl-DON, 15-alfa acetyl-DON), T-2 toxin and zearalenone. Standard means to control FES (cultural control methodologies, chemical pesticides, and FES resistant varieties) have little effect or are not practical and rarely reduce the accumulation of mycotoxins in grain. We have developed a new technique to reduce FES using biological preparations. The technique utilizes wheat seed pretreatment with a biofungicide “Mycol” in combination with spraying wheat plants during flowering with a yeast preparation. Technology for production of Mycol on the basis of Trichoderma asperellum strain GJS 03-35 (systematics by Samuels) has been developed. This strain shows hyperparasitic activity against a wide spectrum of plant pathogens, including Fusarium graminearum, a causative agent of FES in wheat. Experiments conducted in the United States demonstrated that spraying wheat plants during flowering with the patented yeast Cryptococcus nodaensis OH 182.9 (NRRL Y-30216) reliably reduces FES development. Tests of the Mycol preparation and the yeast OH 182.9 (EOD) have been performed on the spring wheat “Ivolga” in greenhouse conditions (the Moscow region) and on the winter wheat “Kupava” in field trials in the North Caucasian region. An isolate of F. graminearum was used to insure adequate levels of disease development in greenhouse and field experiments. FES disease severity and incidence, as well as mycotoxin accumulation in wheat grains was studied for single or combination treatments with the biological preparations. Mycol (in concentrations 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 kg/t of seeds) was used for wheat seed pretreatment. The yeast preparation EOD (2.0×107 cfu/mL) was applied by spraying wheat plants during flowering. Chemical pesticides (Raxyl, TMTD) and a biological preparation Agat-25K were used as alternative control seed treatments. In greenhouse experiments, inoculations of heads with either biological preparation 4 h prior to inoculation with conidia of F. graminearum significantly reduced FES severity. Application with Mycol reduced DON in wheat grains by 6 to 11 fold. EOD alone or, to a lesser extent, in combination was also highly effective in reducing DON content. For treatments consisting of Mycol and EOD, 1000 grain weights were equivalent or higher than for control plants (both infected, and not infected). Wheat seeds obtained from the plants protected by these biological preparations germinated rapidly and possessed high germination rates compared to the FES control. In field trials, Mycol treatments clearly reduced FES symptoms, apparently providing an immunizing effect against FES. Mycol reduced FES severity and enhanced yield of the wheat varieties used. The effect of Mycol used at a minimum test-dose (0.1 kg/t) was not so pronounced. The greatest reduction of FES development was observed at a dose of Mycol of 1.0 kg per 1 t of seeds used in combination with EOD spraying. Experimental results support the contention that the offered technology has good prospects in controlling wheat Fusarium ear scab.

Ethyl acetate fraction of Sargassum pallidum extract attenuates particulate matter-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in keratinocytes and zebrafish

Objective:To evaluate the effect of the ethyl acetate fraction derived from Sargassum pallidum extract against particulate matter(PM)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in HaCaT cells and zebrafish.Methods:HaCaT cells and zebrafish were used to evaluate the protective effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of Sargassum pallidum extract against PM-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.The production of nitric oxide(NO),intracellular ROS,prostaglandin E_(2)(PGE_(2)),and pro-inflammatory cytokines,and the expression levels of COX-2,iNOS,and NF-κB were evaluated in PM-induced HaCaT cells.Furthermore,the levels of ROS,NO,and lipid peroxidation were assessed in the PM-exposed zebrafish model.Results:The ethyl acetate fraction of Sargassum pallidum extract significantly decreased the production of NO,intracellular ROS,and PGE_(2) in PM-induced HaCaT cells.In addition,the fraction markedly suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibited the expression levels of COX-2,iNOS,and NF-κB.Furthermore,it displayed remarkable protective effects against PM-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress,represented by the reduction of NO,ROS,and lipid peroxidation in zebrafish.Conclusions:The ethyl acetate fraction of Sargassum pallidum extract exhibits a protective effect against PM-induced oxidative stress and inflammation both in vitro and in vivo and has the potential as a candidate for the development of pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products.

Pro-fertility effect of Ficus carica fruit extract in streptozotocin-induced male rats

Objective:To explore the impact of Ficus carica fruit aqueous extract on fertility parameters in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced male rats.Methods:Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four different groups.All groups except a normal control group were induced with 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin(STZ)intravenously to induce diabetes.A positive control group was treated with an antidiabetic drug,metformin(500 mg/kg)whereas a negative control group remained untreated throughout the experiment.Meanwhile,another diabetic rat group received treatment with 400 mg/kg of aqueous Ficus carica fruit extract.Rats in the treatment group were administered Ficus carica fruit aqueous extract daily through forcefeeding via oral gavage for a 21-day period.Assessments included the sperm quality(count,motility and morphology),histology of the testes,serum testosterone and fasting blood glucose(FBG)level.Results:The FBG level of the Ficus carica-treated rats exhibited a significant decrease compared to the negative control group(P<0.05).Sperm quality analysis also indicated that the aqueous Ficus carica extract had significant positive effects on sperm count and motility(P<0.05).The histology of the testes in Ficus caricatreated rats revealed an improved cell arrangement in the germinal cell layer.Furthermore,serum testosterone level showed an increment in the Ficus carica treatment group in comparison to the negative control group.Conclusions:Our findings provide compelling evidence for the profertility and anti-hyperglycemic properties of aqueous Ficus carica fruit extract in diabetic-induced male rats.

Synthesis, Characterization of Ruthenium Compounds and Studies of Biological Effects in MCF-7 Tumors Cell Lines

This work presents the synthesis and characterization of compounds derived from the ruthenium transition metal with the nitrogenous ligand 4-aminopy- ridine (4-ampy). The synthesized compounds were characterized by FTIRmed spectroscopy and TG-DTA thermal analysis. For the cytotoxic evaluation of ruthenium compounds, a 66.0 μM aqueous solution containing the complex and the study of data observed in the biological assessment was performed using variance (ANOVA) analysis, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. Differences between treatments were considered significant when the p-value was less than 0.05 (p < 0.05). TG/DSC thermal analysis for the first complex suggests a stoichiometry of [Ru(Cl)3(4-ampy)(H2O)2]·1/2H2O, which, due to the low solubility in an aqueous medium, was modified to increase its solubility for biological tests. The analysis of the spectra in the medium infrared region (FTIR) for the complex [Ru(Cl)3(4-ampy)(H2O)2]·1/2H2O, shows displacements of the bands observed at 1625 - 1566 cm﹣1 ν(C=C) e (C=N), indicating that coordination to the metallic center occurred by this group. Band displacements were observed in the modified Ru (III) complex, which suggests the presence of the 4-ampy ligand and the coordination by the groups ν(C=C) and (C=N) after the modification. In recent years, researchers worldwide have concentrated on obtaining, developing, and modifying drugs used as chemotherapeutic agents. The evaluation of the cell viability of the modified Ru (III) compound demonstrated cytotoxic effects in the MCF-7 cell line (15.33% ± DP 2.7) but did not affect normal cells (PBMC), which reflects the potential for possible applications.

Biological Synthesis of Nanoparticles and Their Applications in Sustainable Agriculture Production

Nanotechnology is a developing field in biotechnology. The synthesis of nanoparticles is an important step in the field of nanotechnology. Overcoming the limitations of traditional methods, a green scheme for synthesizing nanoparticles has emerged. Plants and microorganisms are mainly used for the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Some of the nanoparticles showed strong antimicrobial effects against different plant pathogens. Compared with microorganisms, the use of plants to synthesize nanoparticles is on the rise, and has advantages compared with microorganisms, because plants have a wide range of bio-molecular variability, which can act as blocking/stabilizing agents and reducing agents, thereby increasing reduction rate and stability of synthetic nanoparticles. Of all living things, plants seem to have the best potential for nanoparticle biosynthesis and are suitable for large-scale biosynthesis. Compared with microorganisms, the synthesis of plant-derived nanoparticles is faster and more stable. Therefore, this review focuses on the use of microbial and plant sources to synthesize nanoparticles and their applications in agriculture.

Population trend and spatio-temporal distribution of Greater White-fronted(Anser albifrons)and Bean Geese(Anser fabalis)in Korea

Geese have undergone significant changes in their distribution and population size due to human-induced impacts.To improve our understanding of the two main geese populations in East Asia—Greater White-fronted(Anser albifrons;GWFG)and Bean Geese(Anser fabalis sensu lato;BEAG),which includes the Tundra A.f.serrirostris(TDBG)and Taiga Bean Geese A.f.middendorffii(TGBG),this study estimated their long-and short-term trends and the migration strategies based on their distribution during the migratory and wintering seasons,using nationwide census data collected over 24 years in South Korea.The TRIM(TRends and Indices for Monitoring data)analysis supported a robust long-term population increase since 1999,recently stabilizing around 150,000 individuals in GWFG and 100,000 in TDBG,respectively.But TGBG stabilized at around 7000 with no significant change of population over time.The shorter-term trends within a season suggested that wintering populations of GWFG and TDBG in China might stop over in Korea in their autumn migration before their sea-crossing,evidenced by the large congregation near the Yellow Sea coast followed by a gradual decrease.In contrast to autumn,there was no similar peak in spring migration,suggesting the potential for elliptical migration of some populations around the Yellow Sea.Our findings indicate a growing East Asian population and imply one of the migration strategies of the Greater White-fronted and Tundra Bean Geese.By collaborating with recent tracking data,long-term monitoring efforts could offer more detailed insights into population trends and migration strategies,thereby contributing to the effective management and conservation of goose species in East Asia.

Targeting the chromatin structural changes of antitumor immunity

Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes,promoting the onset and progression of cancer.Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks,tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes,which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy,cancer immunotherapy,and their combinations.Herein,we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes,DNA methylation,histone post-translational modification,and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity,and introduce these epigenetic research methods.We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immuno-therapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.

Catalpa bignonioides extract improves exercise performance through regulation of growth and metabolism in skeletal muscles

Objective:To evaluate the effects of Catalpa bignonioides fruit extract on the promotion of muscle growth and muscular capacity in vitro and in vivo.Methods:Cell viability was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.Cell proliferation was assessed using a 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine(BrdU)assay kit.Western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein expressions of related factors.The effects of Catalpa bignonioides extract were investigated in mice using the treadmill exhaustion test and whole-limb grip strength assay.Chemical composition analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Results:Catalpa bignonioides extract increased the proliferation of C2C12 mouse myoblasts by activating the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.It also induced metabolic changes,increasing the number of mitochondria and glucose metabolism by phosphorylating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase.In an in vivo study,the extract-treated mice showed improved motor abilities,such as muscular endurance and grip strength.Additionally,HPLC analysis showed that vanillic acid may be the main component of the Catalpa bignonioides extract that enhanced muscle strength.Conclusions:Catalpa bignonioides improves exercise performance through regulation of growth and metabolism in skeletal muscles,suggesting its potential as an effective natural agent for improving muscular strength.

Research Progress on Effects of Continuous Cropping on Soil Microbial Florae and Its Restoration

Continuous cropping has become a common form of agricultural production at present, but with the increase of continuous cropping years, continuous cropping obstacles such as soil-borne diseases and plant growth potential decline are becoming more and more common. At present, the causes of continuous cropping obstacles and continuous cropping restoration have become a hot issue in agricultural research. This paper summarized the effects of continuous cropping obstacles on soil microbial community structure and main technical methods to repair continuous cropping obstacles, such as agricultural measure management, microbial balance adjustment and soil improvement, aiming to provide theoretical reference for protecting the sustainable utilization of soil ecosystem and ensuring the stability of crop production.

3,6-Bis-β-Dicarbonylsubstituted Carbazoles Bearing N-Spacers and Their Eu(III) Complexes as Immunofluorescent Labelling Agents

New reagents for immunofluorescence analysis of carbazole series containing fluorinated β-dicarbonyl fragments and carboxylic substituent groups separated by spacers of different lengths from the light-gathering carbazole scaffold have been developed. The markers in complex with Eu3+ ions possess stability in the aqueous phase, intense and prolonged luminescence (τ 550 - 570 μs) with characteristic emission maxima in the region of 615 nm and excitation wavelengths in the region of 380 - 390 nm, which distinguishes them from most of the analogs used. In the study of marker conjugation with streptavidin, a reagent containing 4 - 5 europium labeling complexes based on spacer-containing carbazole tetraketone was obtained. The marker-doped silicate nanoparticles exhibit intense and long-lived luminescence in the characteristic region.

Antibody Pattern: Correlation of Age and Gender in ANA and Anti-ds-DNA Prevalence

The study was designed to find the prevalence of ANA antibodies and anti-dsDNA antibodies in samples tested at AFIP Rawalpindi and their correlation with age and gender and to find positive and negative predictive values of ANA antibodies.For this purpose,twelve thousand nine hundred sixty-seven(12,967)patients were analyzed for ANA with four hundred sixty-eight(468)healthy samples tested as control and four thousand seven hundred three(4,703)patients tested for ds-DNA antibodies.Retrospective data of all samples tested by indirect immunofluorescence(IF)for ANA antibodies and dsDNA antibodies was collected.To address positive and negative predictive values another control group(autoimmunity not suspected)of serum samples was taken from the healthy population.For the first group,age,gender,ANA antibodies and ds-DNA antibodies results(both tests performed by IIF)data was collected from a computer record cell;for the second control group,ANA antibodies were performed by IIF.12,967 and 4,703 samples(Group 1)were tested for ANA antibodies and dsDNA antibodies,respectively,during this period.1,119(9%)and 99(2%)were found positive for ANA antibodies and ds DNA antibodies.Among these positive samples,850(76%)and 73(74%)were females respectively.Gender predisposition towards autoimmunity(ANA)was found significant with a P value of(P=0.001).Relation of age was also found significant with anti-ANA antibodies with a P value of(P=0.001).This study shows a negative correlation between age(P=0.025)and gender(P=0.001)with anti-dsDNA which is also significant.High prevalence was found below the mean age of 38 years(SD±16.635)for ANA antibodies and the mean age of 35 years(SD±15.066)for ds-DNA antibodies.The age of ANA antibodies and dsDNA antibodies positive patients ranged from 1 year old to 98 years old and 2 years old to 95 years old respectively.In the second(autoimmunity-free)control group,a total of 468 samples were tested for ANA antibodies and 9(2%)were found positive.Positive predictive value(PPV)was 8.6%and negative predictive value(NPV)was 98%.ANA is a sensitive test for autoimmunity and it is significantly related to female gender and increasing age.The low prevalence of ANA antibodies among clinically suspected cases suggests that rationalization of test prescriptions is needed.Anti-ds-DNA is also a sensitive test for diagnosis of SLE and it is significantly related to female gender and increasing age.

Evaluating the Potential of Nitrofurantoin and Fosfomycin for E.coli UTIs: A Susceptibility Study

This study was designed to find the susceptibility of Nitrofurantoin and Fosfomycin among urinary isolates of Escherichia.coli.Four hundred(400)urine samples were collected for susceptibility of nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin among urinary isolates of E.coli.All indoor and outdoor patients'urinary samples yielded growth of E.coli.Mid-stream urine specimens were inoculated on blood agar and CLED agar and incubated at 35±2°C.Growth was observed,and Escherichia coli was identified by Gram staining,Catalase,Motility test and API 20E(Bio murex)as per standard procedure.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of isolates for nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin was carried out by the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines ATCC 25922.E.coli was used as a quality control strain.A total of 400 samples were tested susceptibility of nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin among urinary isolates of E.coli during this period.A total of 400 samples yielded the growth of E.coli,out of which 178(44.5%)were male and 222(55.5%)were female samples.Among males,18(10%)were tolerant to nitrofurantoin,and 2(1.1%)were tolerant to fosfomycin.Among females,9(4.09%)were susceptible to nitrofurantoin while 6(2.72%)were susceptible to fosfomycin.Among age groups below 45 years old,6(4.76%)were tolerant to nitrofurantoin,and 2(1.58%)were sensitive to fosfomycin.Between 46-66 years old,4(2.81%)were sensitive to nitrofurantoin,and 3(2.11%)were sensitive to fosfomycin.Between 67-90 years old,17(12.87%)were sensitive to nitrofurantoin,and 4(3.03%)were tolerant to fosfomycin.Fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin showed good susceptibility in urinary isolates of E.coli and can be used empirically in our setup.

Targeting Cancers: Uncovering the Potential Roles of Potato Tissue Culture as Anti-Cancer Agents - A Secondary Publication

Plant tissue culture is a technique that enhances the quality and quantity of potatoes. Potatoes are a significant crop and are primarily used in the world. It is a staple food in many countries, where millions of tonnes are produced annually. It is an essential source of many nutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and beta-carotene. In addition, potatoes are being used as therapeutic agents against cancer and other human diseases as well. Potatoes are on the third list after wheat and rice. To overcome food shortages and malnutrition, there are two methods used for producing potatoes: the first is sexual, which is seed propagation, and the second is asexual, which is plant tissue culture propagation. Conventional potato breeding is a uniform method, but it is unsafe because there is a risk of pathogen attack. In a laboratory setting, the tissue culture of potatoes produced millions of plants with nutrient-rich medium under controlled environmental conditions that prevent pest attacks. Some environmental stresses, such as salinity and water scarcity, affect potato yield and production;however, applying nanoparticles like organic, inorganic, and silicon dioxide enhances potato quality and combats stress. Biotechnology has proven to be helpful in addressing all these issues. This review discusses the significance of potatoes, their production through the tissue culture technique, and the application of nanoparticles to improve the growth, and impact of potatoes on human health.

SHEsis,a powerful software platform for analyses of linkage disequilibrium,haplotype construction,and genetic association at polymorphism loci

In multiloci-based genetic association studies of complex diseases, a powerful and high efficient tool for analyses oflinkage disequilibrium (LD) between markers, haplotype distributions and many chi-square/p values with a large numberof samples has been sought for long. In order to achieve the goal of obtaining meaningful results directly from raw data,we developed a robust and user-friendly software platform with a series of tools for analysis in association study withhigh efficiency. The platform has been well evaluated by several sets of real data.

Renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis

Hepatic fibrosis is considered a common response to many chronic hepatic injuries. It is a multifunctional process that involves several cell types, cytokines, chemokines and growth factors leading to a disruption of homeostatic mechanisms that maintain the liver ecosystem. In spite of many studies regarding the development of fibrosis, the understanding of the pathogenesis remains obscure. The hepatic tissue remodeling process is highly complex, resulting from the balance between collagen degradation and synthesis. Among the many mediators that take part in this process, the components of the Renin angiotensin system （RAS） have progressively assumed an important role. Angiotensin （Ang） II acts as a profibrotic mediator and Ang-（1-7）, the newly recognized RAS component, appears to exert a counter-regulatory role in liver tissue. We briefly review the liver fibrosis process and current aspects of the RAS. This review also aims to discuss some experimental evidence regarding the participation of RAS mediators in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, focusing on the putative role of the ACE2-Ang-（1-7）- Mas receptor axis.

Assessment of vascular invasion in gastric cancer: A comparative study

AIM: To evaluate and compare detection of lymphatic and blood vessel invasion (LVI and BVI) by hematox-ylin-eosin (HE) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in gastric cancer specimens, and to correlate with lymph node status. METHODS: IHC using D2-40 (a lymphatic endothelial marker) and CD34 (a pan-endothelial marker) was performed to study LVI and BVI in surgical specimens froma consecutive series of 95 primary gastric cancer cases. The results of the IHC study were compared with the detection by HE using McNemar test and kappa index. The morphologic features of the tumors and the presence of LVI and BVI were related to the presence of lymph node metastasis. A χ2 test was performed to obtain associations between LVI and BVI and other prognostic factors for gastric cancer. RESULTS: The detection rate of LVI was considerably higher than that of BVI. The IHC study identified eight false-positive cases and 13 false-negative cases for LVI, and 24 false-positive cases and 10 false-negative cases for BVI. The average Kappa value determined was moderate for LVI (k=0.50) and low for BVI (k=0.20). Both LVI and BVI were statistically associated with the presence of lymph node metastasis (HE: P=0.001, P=0.013, and IHC: P=0.001, P=0.019). The mor-phologic features associated with LVI were location of the tumor in the distal third of the stomach (P=0.039), Borrmann's macroscopic type (P=0.001), organ inva-sion (P=0.03) and the depth of tumor invasion (P=0.001). The presence of BVI was related only to the depth of tumor invasion (P=0.003). CONCLUSION: The immunohistochemical identification of lymphatic and blood vessels is useful for increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis of vessel invasion and for predicting lymph node metastasis.

Physiological Responses of Contrasting Rice Genotypes to Salt Stress at Reproductive Stage

Salinity is a major abiotic stress affecting plant growth and productivity. Considerable genetic variation is present in rice in response to salt stress, with higher sensitivity during early seedling and reproductive stage. In this study, physiological changes in leaves and developing panicles of rice genotypes (IR686, Sadri, Rc222, CSR28, IR670 and Pokkali) contrasting in salt tolerance at the reproductive stage were evaluated in greenhouse experiment under salt stress. The results showed that IR670 and the tolerant-check Pokkali maintained lower Na^+/K^+ ratio, less reduction in chlorophyll concentration, lower malondialdehyde (MDA) production, higher concentrations of reduced ascorbate (reduced AsA), higher proline accumulation and lower percentage reduction in pollen viability than the salt-sensitive genotypes under salt stress. The higher concentration of reduced AsA suggests an efficient ROS-scavenging system. Physiological measurements and pollen viability analysis revealed that Sadri (moderately tolerant at the seedling stage) is sensitive to salt stress at the flowering stage. The findings will be useful in breeding salt tolerant varieties at both seedling and reproductive stages by selecting appropriate genotypes and phenotypes.

Role of live microbial feed supplements with reference to anaerobic fungi in ruminant productivity: A review

To keep the concept of a safe food supply to the consumers, animal feed industries world over are showing an increasing interest in the direct-fed microbials（DFM） for improved animal performance in terms of growth or productivity. This becomes all the more essential in a situation, where a number of the residues of antibiotics and/or other growth stimulants reach in milk and meat with a number of associated potential risks for the consumers. Hence, in the absence of growth stimulants, a positive manipulation of the rumen microbial ecosystem to enhance the feedstuff utilization for improved production efficiency by ruminants has become of much interest to the researchers and entrepreneurs. A few genera of live microbes（i.e., bacteria, fungi and yeasts in different types of formulations from paste to powder） are infrequently used as DFM for the domestic ruminants. These DFM products are live microbial feed supplements containing naturally occurring microbes in the rumen. Among different DFM possibilities, anaerobic rumen fungi（ARF） based additives have been found to improve ruminant productivity consistently during feeding trials. Administration of ARF during the few trials conducted, led to the increased weight gain, milk production, and total tract digestibility of feed components in ruminants. Anaerobic fungi in the rumen display very strong cell-wall degrading cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities through rhizoid development, resulting in the physical disruption of feed structure paving the way for bacterial action. Significant improvements in the fiber digestibility were found to coincide with increases in ARF in the rumen indicating their role. Most of the researches based on DFM have indicated a positive response in nutrient digestion and methane reducing potential during in vivo and/or in vitro supplementation of ARF as DFM. Therefore, DFM especially ARF will gain popularity but it is necessary that all the strains are thoroughly studied for their beneficial properties to have a confirmed ‘generally regarded as safe＇ status for ruminants.

Reuse of waste frying oil for production of rhamnolipids using Pseudomonas aeruginosa zju.u1M

In this work,rhamnolipid production was investigated using waste frying oil as the sole carbon source. By culture in shaking flasks,a naturally isolated strain synthesized rhamnolipid at concentration of 12.47 g/L and its mutant after treatment by UV light increased this productivity to 24.61 g/L. Fermentation was also conducted in a 50 L bioreactor and the productivity reached over 20 g/L. Hence,with a stable and high productive mutant strain,it could be feasible to reuse waste frying oil for rhamnolipid production on industrial scale.

Anti-herpes simplex virus activities of monogalactosyl diglyceride and digalactosyl diglyceride from Clinacanthus nutans, a traditional Thai herbal medicine

Objective: To evaluate the monogalactosyl diglyceride(MGDG) and digalactosyl diglyceride(DGDG) from Clinacanthus nutans(C. nutans) for their in vitro antiviral activities against herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) and type 2(HSV-2) by plaque reduction assay.Methods: MGDG and DGDG were extracted with chloroform from C. nutans leaves.MGDG and DGDG were separated from chloroform crude extract using column chromatography, characterized by thin layer chromatography and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. The anti HSV-1 and 2 activity against pre-treatment and posttreatment of the compounds was evaluated using plaque reduction assay. The cytotoxicity of the extract and the compounds on Vero cells were performed by MTT assay.Results: MGDG and DGDG obtained by column chromatography showed identical profiles as standard MGDG and standard DGDG using thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. MGDG and DGDG from C. nutans showed 100%inhibition of HSV-1 replication at the post step of infection at noncytotoxic concentration with IC50 values of 36.00 and 40.00 mg/m L, and HSV-2 at 41.00 and 43.20 mg/mL,respectively. Moreover, MGDG and DGDG from C. nutans were demonstrated to have antiherpes simplex activity at the same level as standard synthetic compounds. In contrast, pretreatment of Vero cells with MGDG and DGDG before HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection did not show inhibitory effect against these viruses. MGDG and DGDG exhibited antiviral activity against HSV-1 with selectivity index of 26.00 and 23.00 and HSV-2 of 23.30 and 21.30.Conclusions: MGDG and DGDG from C. nutans, a traditional Thai herbal medicine illustrated inhibitory activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2, probably by inhibiting the late stage of multiplication, suggesting their promising use as anti-HSV agents.