Constructing a stable interface on Ni-rich LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) cathode via lactic acid-assisted engineering strategy

Ni-rich layered oxides are potential cathode materials for next-generation high energy density Li-ion batteries due to their high capacity and low cost.However,the inherently unstable surface properties,including high levels of residual Li compounds,dissolution of transition metal cations,and parasitic side reactions,have not been effectively addressed,leading to significant degradation in their electrochemical performance.In this study,we propose a simple and effective lactic acid-assisted interface engineering strategy to regulate the surface chemistry and properties of Ni-rich LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mr_(0.1)O_(2) cathode.This novel surface treatment method successfully eliminates surface residual Li compounds,inhibits structural collapse,and mitigates cathode-electrolyte interface film growth.As a result,the lactic acidtreated LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) achieved a remarkable capacity retention of 91.7% after 100 cycles at 0.5 C(25℃) and outstanding rate capability of 149.5 mA h g^(-1) at 10 C,significantly outperforming the pristine material.Furthermore,a pouch-type full cell incorporating the modified LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) cathode demonstrates impressive long-term cycle life,retaining 81.5% of its capacity after 500 cycles at 1 C.More importantly,the thermal stability of the modified cathode is also dramatically improved.This study offers a valuable surface modification strategy for enhancing the overall performance of Ni-rich cathode materials.

Allergen degradation of bee pollen by lactic acid bacteria fermentation and its alleviatory effects on allergic reactions in BALB/c mice

Food allergy as a global health problem threatens food industry.Bee pollen(BP)is a typical food with allergenic potentials,although it performs various nutritional/pharmacological functions to humans.In this study,lactic acid bacteria(LAB)were used to ferment Brassica napus BP for alleviating its allergenicity.Four novel allergens(glutaredoxin,oleosin-B2,catalase and lipase)were identified with significant decreases in LAB-fermented BP(FBP)than natural BP by proteomics.Meanwhile,metabolomics analysis showed significant increases of 28 characteristic oligopeptides and amino acids in FBP versus BP,indicating the degradation of LAB on allergens.Moreover,FBP showed alleviatory effects in BALB/c mice,which relieved pathological symptoms and lowered production of allergic mediators.Microbial high-throughput sequencing analysis showed that FBP could regulate gut microbiota and metabolism to strengthen immunity,which were closely correlated with the alleviation of allergic reactivity.These findings could contribute to the development and utilization of hypoallergenic BP products.

Preparation of lactic acid bacteria compound starter cultures based on pasting properties and its improvement of glutinous rice flour and dough

The effects of 5 lactic acid bacteria(LAB)fermentation on the pasting properties of glutinous rice flour were compared,and suitable fermentation strains were selected based on the changes of viscosity,setback value,and breakdown value to prepare LAB compound starter cultures.The results revealed that Latilactobacillus sakei HSD004 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HSD005 had apparent advantages in increasing the viscosity and reducing the setback and breakdown values of glutinous rice flour.In particular,the compound starter created using the two abovementioned LAB in the ratio of 3:1 had better performance than that using a single LAB in improving the pasting properties and increasing the water and oil absorption capacity of glutinous rice flour.Moreover,the gelatinization enthalpy of the fermented samples increased significantly.For frozen glutinous rice dough stored for 28 days,the viscoelasticity of frozen dough prepared by compound starter was better than that of control dough,and the freezable water content was lower than that of control dough.These results indicate that compound LAB fermentation is a promising technology in the glutinous rice-based food processing industry,which has significance for its application.

Application of Next Generation Sequencing for Rapid Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria

The rapid identification of lactic acid bacteria,which are essential microorganisms in the food industry,is of great significance for industrial applications.The identification of lactic acid bacteria traditionally relies on the isolation and identification of pure colonies.While this method is well-established and widely used,it is not without limitations.The subjective judgment inherent in the isolation and purification process introduces potential for error,and the incomplete nature of the isolation process can result in the loss of valuable information.The advent of next generation sequencing has provided a novel approach to the rapid identification of lactic acid bacteria.This technology offers several advantages,including rapidity,accuracy,high throughput,and low cost.Next generation sequencing represents a significant advancement in the field of DNA sequencing.Its ability to rapidly and accurately identify lactic acid bacteria strains in samples with insufficient information or in the presence of multiple lactic acid bacteria sets it apart as a valuable tool.The application of this technology not only circumvents the potential errors inherent in the traditional method but also provides a robust foundation for the expeditious identification of lactic acid bacteria strains and the authentication of bacterial powder in industrial applications.This paper commences with an overview of traditional and molecular biology methods for the identification of lactic acid bacteria.While each method has its own advantages,they are not without limitations in practical application.Subsequently,the paper provides an introduction of the principle,process,advantages,and disadvantages of next generation sequencing,and also details its application in strain identification and rapid identification of lactic acid bacteria.The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive and reliable basis for the rapid identification of industrial lactic acid bacteria strains and the authenticity identification of bacterial powder.

Poly(lactic acid)-aspirin microspheres prepared via the traditional and improved solvent evaporation methods and its application performances

Drug-loaded microspheres are significant for the development of modern pharmaceutical products. It is well known that the taken of aspirin for long-term increases the risk of serious gastrointestinal complications, therefore a controllable delivery of aspirin is of importance to lighten those side effects. In this work, poly(lactic acid)(PLA) was chosen as the carrier to prepare PLA-aspirin microspheres by using the traditional and the improved solvent evaporation methods. It was found that no matter which experimental condition was, the encapsulation efficiency of aspirin was higher by using the improved method than that of the traditional method. Specifically, when the concentration of polyvinyl alcohol = 1%(mass),the polymer concentration = 1:20, the oil/water rate = 1:2.5, PLA-aspirin microspheres were obtained via the improved method with a high yield of 82.83%(mass) and an encapsulation efficiency of 44.09%. PLAaspirin microspheres were then prepared continuously using the improved method, which further enhanced the encapsulation efficiency to 54.56%. Approximate 85% aspirin released from microspheres within 7 days. Obvious degradation which was represented by reduction on hardness was observed by soaking microspheres in PBS for 60 days. This work is of interest because it provides a continuous route to prepare PLA-aspirin microspheres continuously with a high drug encapsulation efficiency.

Hydrothermal conversion of fructose to lactic acid and derivatives:Synergies of metal and acid/base catalysts

With increasing strict regulation on single-use plastics,lactic acid(LA)and alkyl lactates,as essential monomers for bio-degradable polylactic acid(PLA)plastic products,have gained worldwide attention in both academia and industry.While LA is still dominantly produced through fermentation processes from start,chemical synthesis from cellulosic biomass remains a grand challenge,owing to poor selectivity in activating CAH and CAC bonds in sugar molecules.To our best knowledge,recent publications have been focused on hydrothermal conversion of glucose to LA,while this review summarizes the highlights on direct thermal conversion of fructose as starting material to LA and derivatives.In particular,the synergies of metal/metal cations and acid/base catalysts will be critically revised on retro-aldol and dehydration reactions.This work will provide insights into rational design of active and selective catalysts for the production of carboxylic acids from biomass feedstocks.

Effects of lactic acid bacteria-fermented formula milk supplementation on ileal microbiota,transcriptomic profile,and mucosal immunity in weaned piglets

Background:Lactic acid bacteria(LAB)participating in milk fermentation naturally release and enrich the fermented dairy product with a broad range of bioactive metabolites,which has numerous roles in the intestinal health-promot-ing of the consumer.However,information is lacking regarding the application prospect of LAB fermented milk in the animal industry.This study investigated the effects of lactic acid bacteria-fermented formula milk(LFM)on the growth performance,intestinal immunity,microbiota composition,and transcriptomic responses in weaned piglets.A total of 24 male weaned piglets were randomly divided into the control(CON)and LFM groups.Each group consisted of 6 replicates(cages)with 2 piglets per cage.Each piglet in the LFM group were supplemented with 80 mL LFM three times a day,while the CON group was treated with the same amount of drinking water.Results:LFM significantly increased the average daily gain of piglets over the entire 14 d(P<0.01)and the average daily feed intake from 7 to 14 d(P<0.05).Compared to the CON group,ileal goblet cell count,villus-crypt ratio,sIgA,and lactate concentrations in the LFM group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Transcriptomic analysis of ileal mucosa identified 487 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between two groups.Especially,DEGs involved in the intestinal immune network for IgA production pathways,such as polymeric immunoglobulin receptor(PIGR),were significantly up-regulated(P<0.01)by LFM supplementation.Moreover,trefoil factor 2(TFF2)in the LFM group,one of the DEGs involved in the secretory function of goblet cells,was also significantly up-regulated(P<0.01).Sequenc-ing of the 16S rRNA gene of microbiota demonstrated that LFM led to selective enrichment of lactate-producing and short-chain fatty acid(SCFA)-producing bacteria in the ileum,such as an increase in the relative abundance of Entero-coccus(P=0.09)and Acetitomaculum(P<0.05).Conclusions:LFM can improve intestinal health and immune tolerance,thus enhancing the growth performance of weaned piglets.The changes in microbiota and metabolites induced by LFM might mediate the regulation of the secretory function of goblet cells.

3D printed lactic acid bacteria hydrogel:cell release kinetics and stability

In this study,a new type of 3 D printed living biological hydrogel was developed by integrating lactic acid bacteria(LAB)into biocompatible and non-toxic polymer materials.Interestingly,the living materials loaded with LAB can be freeze-dried and reused for more than 100 times.The bio-hydrogel can be used to co-culture different LAB and keep its fermentation performance stable in long-term use.The release kinetics model and response surface method were used to simulate and optimize the bacteria release mode in the bio-hydrogel.The results show that the release of bacteria from hydrogel is regulated by the coupling of Fickian diffusion and polymer swelling.The stability of LAB hydrogel was evaluated by reuse experiments.The images of confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscope showed that the bacteria with high cell viability were distributed in the hydrogel and intact structure of the living hydrogel was maintained after 100 times of reuse as yoghurt starter.In conclusion,the 3 D printed LAB bio-hydrogel developed in this study has the advantage of reuse and sustainability,which is expected to open up a new way for the preparation of food culture starter.

Effects of lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented mustard on lowering cholesterol

Objective:To evaluate the ability of lactic acid bacteria(LAB)strains isolated from fermented mustard to lower the cholesterol in vitro.Methods:The ability of 50 LAB strains isolated from fermented mustard on lowering cholesterol in vitro was determined by modified o-phtshalaldehyde method.The LAB isolates were analyzed for their resistance to acid and bile salt.Strains with lowering cholesterol activity,were determined adherence to Caco-2 cells.Results:Strain B0007,B0006 and B0022 assimilated more cholesterol than BCRC10474 and BCRC17010.The isolated strains showed tolerance to pH 3.0 for 3h despite variations in the degree of viability and bile-tolerant strains,with more than 10~s CFU/mL after incubation for 24 h at 1%oxigall in MRS.In addition,strain B0007 and B0022 identified as Lactobacillus plantarum with 16S rDNA sequences were able to adhere to the Caco-2 cell lines.Conclusions:These strains B0007 and B0022 may be potential functional sources for cholesterollowering activities as well as adhering to Caco-2 cell lines.

Effect of lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on conservation characteristics,aerobic stability and in vitro gas production kinetics and digestibility of whole-crop corn based total mixed ration silage

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on the fermentation quality, aer- obic stability and in vitro gas production kinetics and digestibility of whole-crop corn based totalmixed ration （TMR） silage. Total mixed ration was ensiled with four treatments： （1） no additives （control）; （2） an inoculant （Lactobacillus plantarum） （L）; （3） propionicacid （P）; （4） propionic acid＋lactic acid bacteria （PL）. All treatments were ensiled in laboratory-scale silos for 45 days, and then subjected to an aerobic stability test for12 days. Further, four TMR silages were incubated in vitro with buffered rumen fluid to study in vitro gas production kinetics and digestibility. The results indicated that all TMR silages had good fermentation characteristics with low pH （〈3.80） and ammonia nitrogen （NH3-N） contents, and high lactic acid contents as well as Flieg points. Addition of L further improved TMR silage quality with more lactic acid production. Addition of P and PL decreased lactic acid and NH3-N contents of TMR silage compared to the control （P〈0.05）. After 12 days aerobic exposure, P and PL silages remained stable, but L and the control silages deteriorated as indicated by a reduction in lactic acid and an increase in pH, and numbers of yeast. Compared to the control, addition of L had no effects on TMR silage in terms of 72 h cumulative gas production, in vitro dry matter digestibility, metabolizable energy, net energy for lactation and short chain fatty acids, whereas addition of PL significantly （P〈0.05） increased them. L silage had higher （P〈0.05） in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility than the control silage. The results of our study suggested that TMR silage prepared with whole-crop corn can be well preserved with or without additives. Furthermore, the findings of this study suggested that propionic acid is compatible with lactic acid bacteria inoculants, and when used together, although they reduced lactic acid production of TMR silage, they improved aerobic stability and in vitro nutrients digestibility of TMR silage.

Influence of lactic acid bacteria, cellulase, cellulase-producing Bacillus pumilus and their combinations on alfalfa silage quality

This study assessed the effects of lactic acid bacteria(LAB), cellulase, cellulase-producing Bacillus pumilus and their combinations on the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition, bacterial community and in vitro digestibility of alfalfa silage. A completely randomized design involving a 8(silage additives)×3 or 2(silage days) factorial arrangement of treatments was adopted in the present study. The 8 silage additive treatments were: untreated alfalfa(control); two commercial additives(GFJ and Chikuso-1); an originally selected LAB(Lactobacillus plantarum a214) isolated from alfalfa silage; a cellulase-producing Bacillus(CB) isolated from fresh alfalfa; cellulase(C); and the combined additives(a214+C and a214+CB). Silage fermentation characteristics, chemical composition and microorganism populations were analysed after 30, 60 and 65 days(60 days followed by exposure to air for five additional days). In vitro digestibility was analysed for 30 and 60 days. Compared with the other treatments, selected LAB a214, a214 combined with either C or CB, and Chikuso-1 had the decreased(P<0.001) pH and increased(P<0.001) lactic acid concentrations during the ensiling process, and there were no differences(P>0.05) among them. Fiber degradation was not significant(P≥0.054) in any C or CB treatments. The a214 treatment showed the highest(P=0.009) in vitro digestibility of dry matter(595.0 g kg–1DM) after ensiling and the highest abundance of Lactobacillus(69.42 and 79.81%, respectively) on days 60 and 65, compared to all of other treatments. Overall, the silage quality of alfalfa was improved with the addition of a214, which indicates its potential as an alfalfa silage inoculant.

The aflatoxin B1 isolating potential of two lactic acid bacteria

Objective:To determine lactic acid bacteria's capability to enhance the process of binding and isolating aflatoxin B1 and to utilize such lactic acid bacteria as a food supplement or probiotic products for preventing absorption of aflatoxin Bl in human and animal bodies.Methods:In the present research,the bacteria were isolated from five different sources.For surveying the capability of the bacteria in isolating aflatoxin Bl,ELISA method was implemented,and for identifying the resultant strains through 16S rRNA sequencing method,universal primers were applied.Results:Among the strains which were isolated,two strains of Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus beveris exhibited the capability of absorbing and isolating aflatoxin Bl by respectively absorbing and discharging 17.4%and 34.7%of the aforementioned toxin existing in the experiment solution.Conclusions:Strains of Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus beveris were isolated from human feces and local milk samples,respectively.And both strains has the ability to isolate or bind with aflatoxin Bl.

Influence of lactic acid on the two-phase anaerobic digestion of kitchen wastes

To evaluate the influence of lactic acid on the methanogenesis, anaerobic digestion of kitchen wastes was firstly conducted in a two-phase anaerobic digestion process, and performance of two digesters fed with lactic acid and glucose was subsequently compared. The results showed that the lactic acid was the main fermentation products of hydrolysis-acidification stage in the two-phase anaerobic digestion process for kitchen wastes. The lactic acid concentration constituted approximately 50% of the chemical oxygen demand （COD） concentration in the hydrolysis-acidification liquid. The maximum organic loading rate was lower in the digester fed with lactic acid than that fed with glucose. Volatile fatty acids （VFAs） and COD removal were deteriorated in the methanogenic reactor fed with lactic acid compared to that fed with glucose. The specific methanogenic activity （SMA） declined to 0.343 g COD/（gVSS-d） when the COD loading were designated as 18.8 g/（L-d） in the digester fed with lactic acid. The propionic acid accumulation occurred due to the high concentration of lactic acid fed. It could be concluded that avoiding the presence of the lactic acid is necessary in the hydrolysis-acidification process for the improvement of the two-phase anaerobic digestion process of kitchen wastes.

The Role of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Milk Fermentation

Species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) represent as potential microorganisms and have been widely applied in food fermentation worldwide. Milk fermentation process has been relied on the activity of LAB, where transformation of milk to good quality of fermented milk products made possible. The presence of LAB in milk fermentation can be either as spontaneous or inoculated starter cultures. Both of them are promising cultures to be explored in fermented milk manufacture. LAB have a role in milk fermentation to produce acid which is important as preservative agents and generating flavour of the products. They also produce exopolysaccharides which are essential as texture formation. Considering the existing reports on several health-promoting properties as well as their generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status of LAB, they can be widely used in the developing of new fermented milk products.

Comparative studies of versatile extracellular proteolytic activities of lactic acid bacteria and their potential for extracellular amino acid productions as feed supplements

Background:Increasing understanding on the functions of amino acids (AA) has led to new commercial applications and expansion of the worldwide markets.However,the current technologies rely heavily on non-food grade microorganism and chemical synthesis for the production of AA.Several studies reported that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have the capability of producing AA owing to their well-established proteolytic system and amino acid biosynthesis genes.Hence,the objectives of this study were to explore the extracellular proteolytic activity of LAB isolated from various Malaysian fermented foods and their potential to produce AA extracellularly as feed supplements.Results:All the studied LAB isolates were versatile extracellular protease producers,whereby extracellular protease activities were detected from acidic to alkaline pH (pH 5,pH 6.5,pH 8) using qualitative and quantitative proteolytic assays.The highest proteolytic activity at pH 5 (15.76 U/mg) and pH 8 (19.42 U/mg) was achieved by Lactobacillus plantarum RG14,while Lactobacillus plantarum RS5 exhibited the highest proteolytic activity of 17.22 U/mg at pH 6.5.As for the results of AA production conducted in de Man,Rogosa and Sharpe medium and analysed by high pressure liquid chromatography system,all LAB isolates were capable of producing an array of AA.Generally,Pediococcus sp.showed greater ability for AA production as compared to Lactobacillus sp.Moreover,the studied LAB were able to produce a few major feed supplement AA such as methionine,lysine,threonine and tryptophan.P.pentosaceus TL-3 recorded the highest methionine and threonine productivity of 3.72 mg/L/h and 5.58 mg/L/h respectively.However,L.plantarum I-UL4 demonstrated a lysine productivity of 1.24 mg/L/h,while P.acidilactici TP-6 achieved up to 1.73 mg/L/h of tryptophan productivity.Conclusion:All the 17 studied LAB isolates possessed versatile extracellular proteolytic system and have vast capability of producing various amino acids including a few major feed supplement AA such as methionine,lysine,threonine and tryptophan.Despite AA production was strain dependent,the studied LAB isolates possessed vast potential and can be exploited further as a bio-agent or an alternative amino acids and bioactive peptide producers.

Catalytic conversion of cellulose-based biomass and glycerol to lactic acid

Catalytic transformation of cellulose into value-added chemicals is of great importance for utilization of renewable and abundant biomass. Due to the high oxygen content, cellulose serves as an ideal candidate for the production of oxygenates, in particular lactic acid which is a versatile building block in chemical industry. The efficient conversion of cellulose to lactic acid generally requires selective activation of specific C-O and C-C bonds, and therefore multifunctional catalysts that combine several key reactions including hydrolysis, isomerization and retro-aldol fragmentation are highly desirable. This review article highlights the recently developed catalytic systems and catalysts for the selective transformation of cellulose and cellulose-derived carbohydrates into lactic acid, lactates and/or its esters. Emphases will be put on the reaction mechanism and key factors that exert effects on the catalytic performances. In addition, the catalytic transformation of glycerol, a C3 compound over-supplied from biodiesel industry, will also be surveyed. Recent advances in the development of new catalysts or strategies are analyzed and discussed to gain insight into the transformation of C3 compound to lactic acid.

The effect of lactic acid bacteria inoculums on in vitro rumen fermentation, methane production, ruminal cellulolytic bacteria populations and cellulase activities of corn stover silage

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lactic acid bacteria(LAB) inoculums on fermentation quality and in vitro digestibility of corn stover silage.Corn stover was ensiled without(control) or with Lactobacillus plantarum(LP),Enterococcus faecalis(EF),and Enterococcus mundtii(EM) for 45 days.The fermentation characteristics were assessed,and subsequent in vitro dry matter digestibility(DM-D),neutral detergent fiber digestibility(NDF-D),volatile fatty acids(VFA),methane(CH4) production,cellulolytic bacteria proportions and their activities per corn stover silage were also determined.There was no significant difference(P>0.05) among the silage pH,lactic acid,crude protein(CP),water soluble carbohydrates(WSC) and lignocelluloses contents of different treatments.The relative proportions of Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Fibrobacter succinogenes,carboxymethyl-ocellulose and β-glycosidase activities,DM-D,NDF-D,and VFA production of in vitro incubation was higher(P<0.05) for silages inoculated with LP and EF than those of the control silage.Silage inoculated with LP showed the lowest(P<0.05) CH4 production per unit yield of VFA,which was positively corresponded to the lowest(P<0.05) ratio of acetate to propionate.In summary,the ensiling fermentation quality and subsequent utilization of corn stover silage were efficiently improved by inoculated with L.plantarum.

Lactic Acid Inhibits NF-kB Activation by Lipopolysaccharide in Rat Intestinal Mucosa Microvascular Endothelial Cells

To investigate whether lactic acid could inhibit the LPS-activation of NF-κB p65 in rat intestinal mucosa microvascular endothelial cells （RIMMVECs）, RIMMVECs, cultured in vitro, were pretreated with different concentrations of lactic acid and then exposed to lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. Cells and cell culture media were then collected at different time intervals. Production of tumor necrosis factor-a （TNF-a） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） was examined at the protein level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The influence of lactic acid on the LPS-activation of NF-κB was examined at mRNA and protein levels by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. TNF-a and IL-6 protein levels were significantly decreased after pretreatment with lactic acid compared with cells exposed to LPS only. After pretreatment with 7.5, 5.0, and 2.5 μL mL-1 lactic acid, NF-κB mRNA levels were increased by 1.51-, 2.62- and 3.00-fold, respectively, compared with levels in control cells without LPS treatment. Western blot analysis indicated that the level of NF-κB p65 in the lactic acid-pretreated group was significantly lower than that in the group treated with LPS only （positive control） and was unchanged compared with the group without LPS treatment （blank control）. These results suggest that lactic acid may inhibit LPS-activation of NF-κB, leading to the down-regulation of TNF-a and IL-6.

Effect of Cellulase and Lactic Acid Bacteria on Fermentation Quality and Chemical Composition of Wheat Straw Silage

The object of this study was to determine the effect of cellulase and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on fermentation quality and chemical composition of wheat straw silage. Silages were prepared using a small-scale fermentation system and the moisture level was adjusted to 60% of fresh matter (FM) with deionized water. Treatments were designed as: control silage without additives, LAB inoculant Lactobacillus casei Z3-1 (1.0 × 106 cfu·g-1 of FM), commercial inoculant L. plantarum FG 1 (1.0 × 106 cfu·g-1 of FM), Z3-1 + cellulase and FG 1 + cellulase. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and crude protein (CP) contents of the wheat straw prior to ensiling were 76.93%, 48.52% and 4.63% of dry matter (DM), respectively. After 30 days of fermentation, the silages treated with LAB and LAB + cellulase had a lower (P < 0.05) pH and higher (P < 0.05) lactic acid content than the control, and the coliform bacteria, yeast and mold were inhibited at the early stage of fermentation. Besides, silages treated with cellulase had lower (P < 0.05) values of ADF and NDF than the control. The results confirmed that the addition of cellulase and LAB contributed to improving the fermentation quality of wheat straw silage.

Lactic Acid Reduces LPS-Induced TNF-a and IL-6 mRNA Levels Through Decreasing I?Ba Phosphorylation

This study explored the effects over time of lactic acid （LA） on IκBα phosphorylation and nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） p65 protein expression, and on tumor necrosis factor a （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） mRNA levels in rat intestinal mucosa microvascular endothelial cells （RIMMVECs） stimulated by lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. I？Ba, phosphorylated IκBa （p-IκBa） and p65 protein levels were monitored by Western blot analysis, and TNF-a and IL-6 mRNA levels were analyzed using real-time PCR. LA treatment reduced TNF-a and IL-6 mRNA levels in LPS-stimulated RIMMVECs, with the greatest effect being after 3 h. The highest inhibitory effect of LA on IκBa phosphorylation to prevent activation of NF-κB was after 6 h. These results suggest that LA reduces TNF-a and IL-6 mRNA levels through decreasing IκBa phosphorylation and blocking the dissociation of IKK complex, which prevents activation of NF-κB.