Effect of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on antioxidant,and anti-inflammatory activities of bioactive peptides generated in sausages fermented with Staphylococcus simulans QB7

Dry-fermented sausages are a good source of bioactive peptides,whose stability against gastrointestinal(GI)digestion determines their bioaccessibility.This study focused on evaluating the effect of peptide extracts from sausages fermented with Staphylococcus simulans QB7 during in vitro simulated GI digestion,including peptide profiles and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.Peptides present in sausages were degraded during digestion,with molecular weight reduced from>12 kDa to<1.5 kDa.Besides,the content of amino acids increased from 381.15 to 527.07 mg/g,especially tyrosine being found only after GI digestion.The anti-inflammatory activities were increased after GI digestion,however,the changes in antioxidant activities were the opposite.A total number of 255,252 and 386 peptide sequences were identified in undigested,peptic-digested and GI-digested samples,respectively.PeptideRanker,BIOPEP-UWM and admetSAR were used to further predict the functional properties and intestinal absorption of the identified peptide sequences from GI digestion.Finally,18 peptides were discovered to possess either antioxidant or anti-inflammatory capacities.

Welfare and Market Impacts of Food Safety Measures in China: Results from Urban Consumers' Valuation of Product Attributes

This study provides an economics assessment of various food safety measures in China. A choice experiment approach is used to elicit Chinese consumer preferences for various food safety attributes using data from a 2008 urban consumer survey. An alternative welfare calculation is used to model aggregate market impacts of select food safety measures. Our results show that the largest welfare gains are found in the current government-run certiifcation program. The implementation of a third-party certiifcation system, a traceability network and a product label would generate signiifcant value and would help reduce current system inefifciencies in China. This study builds on previous research and provides an alternative approach for calculating consumer valuation of safety and quality attributes that can be used to estimate aggregate economic and welfare impacts.

Quality and origin of mountain food products: the new European label as a strategy for sustainable development

Mountain farming provides high-quality food products due to the peculiar characteristics of the raw materials combined with traditional processing conditions. However, these products and their intrinsic characteristics are not clearly recognized by consumers on the market. Nowadays, Protected Designation of Origin(PDO), Protected Geographical Indication(PGI) and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed(TSG) certifications include products originating in mountain areas, even if a large part of mountain foodstuff is not protected by these certifications and foods not made in mountain areas are often labeled as ―mountain food products‖. For this reason, the European Union has set a specific Regulation in 2012 to recognize and protect mountain food and to make the consumers safer about the origin information. The objective of this paper is twofold: firstly, it presents the recent aspects related to European legislation of mountain food product; secondly, it aims at reviewing the main features of nutritional quality and technology of dairy and meat products, as the most widespread mountain food products, and the main protocols used to evaluate the authenticity of these food products. The promotion of mountain food product through a specific label and the use of tracing methods, which are able to verify the authenticity of the origin of these products, may play a pivotal role in increasing the consumer‘s loyalty towards these products and could be a way to boost a sustainable development of these economically marginal rural areas. However, the analytical protocols developed so far(stable isotopes, macro and microelements, radionuclides, spectroscopic, molecular techniques, volatile substances profile, terpenes) are in many cases still at the experimental level due to the extreme variability of the mountain origin of the products to be tested.

Productive and physiological implications of top-dress addition of branched-chain amino acids and arginine on lactating sows and offspring

Background Branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs),including L-leucine(L-Leu),L-isoleucine(L-Ile),L-valine(L-Val),and L-arginine(L-Arg),play a crucial role in mammary gland development,secretion of milk and regulation of the catabolic state and immune response of lactating sows.Furthermore,it has recently been suggested that free amino acids(AAs)can also act as microbial modulators.This study aimed at evaluating whether the supplementation of lactating sows with BCAAs(9,4.5 and 9 g/d/sow of L-Val,L-Ile and L-Leu,respectively)and/or L-Arg(22.5 g/d/sow),above the estimated nutritional requirement,could influence the physiological and immunological parameters,microbial profile,colostrum and milk composition and performance of sows and their offspring.Results At d 41,piglets born from the sows supplemented with the AAs were heavier(P=0.03).The BCAAs increased glucose and prolactin(P<0.05)in the sows’serum at d 27,tended to increase immunoglobulin A(IgA)and IgM in the colostrum(P=0.06),increased the IgA(P=0.004)in the milk at d 20 and tended to increase lymphocyte%in the sows’blood at d 27(P=0.07).Furthermore,the BCAAs tended to reduce the Chao1 and Shannon microbial indices(P<0.10)in the sows’faeces.The BCAA group was discriminated by Prevotellaceae_UCG-004,Erysipelatoclostridiaceae UCG-004,the Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Treponemaberlinense.Arginine reduced piglet mortality pre-(d 7,d 14)and post-weaning(d 41)(P<0.05).Furthermore,Arg increased the IgM in the sow serum at d 10(P=0.05),glucose and prolactin(P<0.05)in the sow serum at d 27 and the monocyte percentage in the piglet blood at d 27(P=0.025)and their jejunal expression of NFKB2(P=0.035)while it reduced the expression of GPX-2(P=0.024).The faecal microbiota of the sows in Arg group was discriminated by Bacteroidales.The combination of BCAAs and Arg tended to increase spermine at d 27(P=0.099),tended to increase the Igs(IgA and IgG,P<0.10)at d 20 in the milk,favoured the faecal colonisation of Oscillospiraceae UCG-005 and improved piglet growth.Conclusion Feeding Arg and BCAAs above the estimated requirements for milk production may be a strategy to improve sow productive performance in terms of piglet average daily gain(ADG),immune competence and survivability via modulation of the metabolism,colostrum and milk compositions and intestinal microbiota of the sows.The synergistic effect between these AAs,noticeable by the increase of Igs and spermine in the milk and in the improvement of the performance of the piglets,deserves additional investigation.

Molecular characterization of intergeneric hybrids between Malus and Pyrus

Apple(Malus)and pear(Pyrus)are economically important fruit crops well known for their unique textures,f lavours,and nutritional qualities.Both genera are characterised by a distinct pattern of secondary metabolites,which directly affect not only resistance to certain diseases,but also have significant impacts on the f lavour and nutritional value of the fruit.The identical chromosome numbers,similar genome size,and their recent divergence date,together with DNA markers have shown that apple and pear genomes are highly co-linear.This study utilized comparative genomic approaches,including simple sequence repeats,high resolution single nucleotide polymorphism melting analysis,and single nucleotide polymorphism chip analysis to identify genetic differences among hybrids of Malus and Pyrus,and F2 offspring.This research has demonstrated and validated that these three marker types,along with metabolomics analysis are very powerful tools to detect and confirm hybridity of progeny derived from crosses between apple and pear in both cross directions.Furthermore,this work analysed the genus-specific metabolite patterns and the resistance to fire blight(Erwinia amylovora)in progeny.The findings of this work will enhance and accelerate the breeding of novel tree fruit crops that benefit producers and consumers,by enabling marker assisted selection of desired traits introgressed between pear and apple.

Could natural phytochemicals be used to reduce nitrogen excretion and excreta‑derived N_(2)O emissions from ruminants?

Ruminants play a critical role in our food system by converting plant biomass that humans cannot or choose not to consume into edible high-quality food.However,ruminant excreta is a significant source of nitrous oxide(N_(2)O),a potent greenhouse gas with a long-term global warming potential 298 times that of carbon dioxide.Natural phytochemicals or forages containing phytochemicals have shown the potential to improve the efficiency of nitrogen(N)utilization and decrease N_(2)O emissions from the excreta of ruminants.Dietary inclusion of tannins can shift more of the excreted N to the feces,alter the urinary N composition and consequently reduce N_(2)O emissions from excreta.Essential oils or saponins could inhibit rumen ammonia production and decrease urinary N excretion.In grazed pastures,large amounts of glucosinolates or aucubin can be introduced into pasture soils when animals consume plants rich in these compounds and then excrete them or their metabolites in the urine or feces.If inhibitory compounds are excreted in the urine,they would be directly applied to the urine patch to reduce nitrification and subsequent N_(2)O emissions.The phytochemicals’role in sustainable ruminant production is undeniable,but much uncertainty remains.Inconsistency,transient effects,and adverse effects limit the effectiveness of these phytochemicals for reducing N losses.In this review,we will identify some current phytochemicals found in feed that have the potential to manipulate ruminant N excretion or mitigate N_(2)O production and deliberate the challenges and opportunities associated with using phytochemicals or forages rich in phytochemicals as dietary strategies for reducing N excretion and excreta-derived N_(2)O emissions.

The immune modifying effects of amino acids on gut-associated lymphoid tissue

The intestine and the gut-associated lymphoid tissue（GALT） are essential components of whole body immune defense,protecting the body from foreign antigens and pathogens,while allowing tolerance to commensal bacteria and dietary antigens.The requirement for protein to support the immune system is well established.Less is known regarding the immune modifying properties of individual amino acids,particularly on the GALT.Both oral and parenteral feeding studies have established convincing evidence that not only the total protein intake,but the availability of specific dietary amino acids（in particular glutamine,glutamate,and arginine,and perhaps methionine,cysteine and threonine） are essential to optimizing the immune functions of the intestine and the proximal resident immune cells.These amino acids each have unique properties that include,maintaining the integrity,growth and function of the intestine,as well as normalizing inflammatory cytokine secretion and improving T-lymphocyte numbers,specific T cell functions,and the secretion of IgA by lamina propria cells.Our understanding of this area has come from studies that have supplemented single amino acids to a mixed protein diet and measuring the effect on specific immune parameters.Future studies should be designed using amino acid mixtures that target a number of specific functions of GALT in order to optimize immune function in domestic animals and humans during critical periods of development and various disease states.

Metabolomics characterization of colostrum in three sow breeds and its influences on piglets' survival and litter growth rates

Background: Colostrum is the first secretion produced by mammary glands during the hours immediately preceding and succeeding parturition. This secretion differs from milk and represents an essential vehicle of passive immunity,prebiotic compounds and growth factors involved in intestinal development. Most of the literature concerning colostrum composition refers mainly to human and cow; and little is known about pig colostrum metabolome and how it varies between pig breeds and different farrowing parity. Thus, the aim of the present research is to provide new information about pig colostrum composition and the associations between metabolites, the sows' breed and the survival and growth rates of their litters.Results: Colostrum samples were gathered from 58 parturitions of sows belonging to three different breeds chosen for their importance in Italian heavy pig production: 31 Large White, 15 Landrace and 12 Duroc respectively. The defatted and ultrafiltered colostrum samples were analysed using1 H–NMR spectroscopy. Principal Components Analysis(PCA) was assessed on the obtained spectra. In addition, using a Stepwise Regression and a Linear Regression analyses the metabolites named after the signals assignment were tested for their associations with piglets' performances.Twenty-five metabolites were identified, comprehending monosaccharides, disaccharides(such as lactose), organic acids(lactate, citrate, acetate and formate), nitrogenous organic acids(such as creatine) and other compounds,including nucleotides. PCA results evidence a clustering due to breed and season effects. Lactose was the main compound determining the assignment of the samples into different clusters according to the sow breed. Furthermore, some metabolites showed to be associated with piglets' performance and survival traits: acetate and taurine were positively related to litter weight gain and piglets' survival rate, respectively, while dimethylamine and cis-aconitate were linked to new-borns' impaired ability to survive.Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that colostrum composition is affected by breed, which, together with environmental conditions, may cause changes in colostrum metabolites content with possible consequences on piglets' performances. Among the identified metabolites, acetate, taurine, dimethylamine and cis-aconitate showed consistent associations with piglets' survival rate and litter weight gain, implying that these compounds may affect new-borns' ability to survive.

Implication and challenges of direct-fed microbial supplementation to improve ruminant production and health

Direct-fed microbials(DFMs)are feed additives containing live naturally existing microbes that can benefit animals’health and production performance.Due to the banned or strictly limited prophylactic and growth promoting usage of antibiotics,DFMs have been considered as one of antimicrobial alternatives in livestock industry.Microorganisms used as DFMs for ruminants usually consist of bacteria including lactic acid producing bacteria,lactic acid utilizing bacteria and other bacterial groups,and fungi containing Saccharomyces and Aspergillus.To date,the available DFMs for ruminants have been largely based on their effects on improving the feed efficiency and ruminant productivity through enhancing the rumen function such as stabilizing ruminal pH,promoting ruminal fermentation and feed digestion.Recent research has shown emerging evidence that the DFMs may improve performance and health in young ruminants,however,these positive outcomes were not consistent among studies and the modes of action have not been clearly defined.This review summarizes the DFM studies conducted in ruminants in the last decade,aiming to provide the new knowledge on DFM supplementation strategies for various ruminant production stages,and to identify what are the potential barriers and challenges for current ruminant industry to adopt the DFMs.Overall literature research indicates that DFMs have the potential to mitigate ruminal acidosis,improve immune response and gut health,increase productivity(growth and milk production),and reduce methane emissions or fecal shedding of pathogens.More research is needed to explore the mode of action of specific DFMs in the gut of ruminants,and the optimal supplementation strategies to promote the development and efficiency of DFM products for ruminants.

Dietary and metabolomic determinants of relapse in ulcerative colitis patients: A pilot prospective cohort study

AIM To identify demographic, clinical, metabolomic, and lifestyle related predictors of relapse in adult ulcerative colitis(UC) patients.METHODS In this prospective pilot study, UC patients in clinical remission were recruited and followed-up at 12 mo to assess a clinical relapse, or not. At baseline information on demographic and clinical parameters was collected. Serum and urine samples were collected for analysis of metabolomic assays using a combined direct infusion/liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resolution spectroscopy. Stool samples were also collected to measure fecal calprotectin(FCP). Dietary assessment was performed using a validated self-administered food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS Twenty patients were included(mean age: 42.7 ± 14.8 years, females: 55%). Seven patients(35%) experienced a clinical relapse during the follow-up period. While 6 patients(66.7%) with normal body weight developed a clinical relapse, 1 UC patient(9.1%) who was overweight/obese relapsed during the follow-up(P = 0.02). At baseline, poultry intake was significantly higher in patients who were still in remission during follow-up(0.9 oz vs 0.2 oz, P = 0.002). Five patients(71.4%) with FCP > 150 μg/g and 2 patients(15.4%) with normal FCP(≤ 150 μg/g) at baseline relapsed during the follow-up(P = 0.02). Interestingly, baseline urinary and serum metabolomic profiling of UC patients with or without clinical relapse within 12 mo showed a significant difference. The most important metabolites that were responsible for this discrimination were trans-aconitate, cystine and acetamide in urine, and 3-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate and acetone in serum. CONCLUSION A combination of baseline dietary intake, fecal calprotectin, and metabolomic factors are associated with risk of UC clinical relapse within 12 mo.

A review of China's energy consumption structure and outlook based on a long-range energy alternatives modeling tool

China＇s energy consumption experienced rapid growth over the past three decades, raising great concerns for the future adjustment of China＇s energy consumption structure. This paper first presents the historical evidence on China＇s energy consumption by the fuel types and sectors. Then, by establishing a bottom-up accounting framework and using long-range energy alternatives plan- ning energy modeling tool, the future of China＇s energy consumption structure under three scenarios is forecast. According to the estimates, China＇s total energy con- sumption will increase from 3014 million tonnes oil equivalent （Mtoe） in 2015 to 4470 Mtoe in 2040 under the current policies scenario, 4040 Mtoe in 2040 under the moderate policies scenario and 3320 Mtoe in 2040 under the strong policies scenario, respectively, lower than those of the IEA＇s estimations. In addition, the clean fuels （gas, nuclear and renewables） could be an effective alternative to the conventional fossil fuels （coal and oil） and offer much more potential. Furthermore, the industry sector has much strong reduction potentials than the other sectors. Finally, this paper suggests that the Chinese government should incorporate consideration of adjustment of the energy consumption structure into existing energy policies and measures in the future.

Methodology and application of Escherichia coli F4 and F18 encoding infection models in post-weaning pigs

The enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) expressing F4 and F18 fimbriae are the two main pathogens associated with post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in piglets.The growing global concern regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has encouraged research into the development of nutritional and feeding strategies as well as vaccination protocols in order to counteract the PWD due to ETEC.A valid approach to researching effective strategies is to implement piglet in vivo challenge models with ETEC infection.Thus,the proper application and standardization of ETEC F4 and F18 challenge models represent an urgent priority.The current review provides an overview regarding the current piglet ETEC F4 and F18 challenge models;it highlights the key points for setting the challenge protocols and the most important indicators which should be included in research studies to verify the effectiveness of the ETEC challenge.Based on the current review,it is recommended that the setting of the model correctly assesses the choice and preconditioning of pigs,and the timing and dosage of the ETEC inoculation.Furthermore,the evaluation of the ETEC challenge response should include both clinical parameters (such as the occurrence of diarrhea,rectal temperature and bacterial fecal shedding) and biomarkers for the specific expression of ETEC F4/F18 (such as antibody production,specific F4/F18 immunoglobulins (lgs),ETEC F4/F18 fecal enumeration and analysis of the F4/F18 receptors expression in the intestinal brush borders).On the basis of the review,the piglets' response upon F4 or F18 inoculation differed in terms of the timing and intensity of the diarrhea development,on ETEC fecal shedding and in the piglets' immunological antibody response.This information was considered to be relevant to correctly define the experimental protocol,the data recording and the sample collections.Appropriate challenge settings and evaluation of the response parameters will allow future research studies to comply with the replacement,reduction and refinement (3R) approach,and to be able to evaluate the efficiency of a given feeding,nutritional or vaccination intervention in order to combat ETEC infection.

Resistant starch: Implications of dietary inclusion on gut health and growth in pigs:a review

Starch from cereal grains,pulse grains,and tubers is a major energy substrate in swine rations constituting up to 55%of the diet.In pigs,starch digestion is initiated by salivary and then pancreaticα-amylase,and has as final step the digestion of disaccharides by the brush-border enzymes in the small intestine that produce monosaccharides(glucose)for absorption.Resistant starch(RS)is the proportion of starch that escapes the enzymatic digestion and absorption in the small intestine.The undigested starch reaches the distal small intestine and hindgut for microbial fermentation,which produces short-chain fatty acids(SCFA)for absorption.SCFA in turn,influence microbial ecology and gut health of pigs.These fermentative metabolites exert their benefits on gut health through promoting growth and proliferation of enterocytes,maintenance of intestinal integrity and thus immunity,and modulation of the microbial community in part by suppressing the growth of pathogenic bacteria while selectively enhancing beneficial microbes.Thus,RS has the potential to confer prebiotic effects and may contribute to the improvement of intestinal health in pigs during the post-weaning period.Despite these benefits to the well-being of pigs,RS has a contradictory effect due to lower energetic efficiency of fermented vs.digested starch absorption products.The varying amount and type of RS interact differently with the digestion process along the gastrointestinal tract affecting its energy efficiency and host physiological responses including feed intake,energy metabolism,and feed efficiency.Results of research indicate that the use of RS as prebiotic may improve gut health and thereby,reduce the incidence of post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)and associated mortality.This review summarizes our current knowledge on the effects of RS on microbial ecology,gut health and growth performance in pigs.

Ontogeny,growth and development of the small intestine:Understanding pediatric gastroenterology

Throughout our lifetime,the intestine changes.Some alterations in its form and function may be genetically determined,and some are the result of adaptation to diet,temperature,or stress.The critical period programming of the intestine can be modified,such as from subtle differences in the types and ratios of n3:m6 fatty acids in the diet of the pregnant mother,or in the diet of the weanlings.This early forced adaptation may persist in later life,such as the unwanted increased intestinal absorption of sugars,fatty acids and cholesterol.Thus,the ontogeny,early growth and development of the intestine is important for the adult gastroenterologist to appreciate,because of the potential for these early life events to affect the responsiveness of the intestine to physiological or pathological challenges in later life.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Gongronema latifolium

Chemical composition of Gongronema latifolium leaves was determined using standard methods. Aqueous and methanol G. latifolium extracts were tested against thirteen pathogenic bacterial isolates. Crude protein, lipid extract, ash, crude fibre and nitrogen free extractives obtained are: 27.2%, 6.07%, 11.6%, 10.8% and 44.3% dry matter respectively. Potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and cobalt contents are 332, 110, 115, 125 and 116 mg/kg respectively. Dominant essential amino acids are leucine, valine and phenylalanine. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid and glycine are 13.8%, 11.9% and 10.3% respectively of total amino acid. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are 50.2% and 39.4% of the oil respectively. Palmitic acid makes up 36% of the total fatty acid. Extracts show no activity against E. faecalis, Y. enterolytica, E. aerogenes, B. cereus and E. agglomerans. Methanol extracts were active against S. enteritidis, S. cholerasius ser typhimurium and P. aeruginosa (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 1 mg; zone of growth inhibition 7, 6.5 and 7 mm respectively). Aqueous extracts show activity against E. coli (MIC 5 mg) and P. aeruginosa (MIC 1 mg) while methanol extracts are active against P. aeruginosa and L. monocytogenes. G. latifolium has potential food and antibacterial uses.

Pathways of flower infection and pollen-mediated dispersion of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, the causal agent of kiwifruit bacterial canker

Flowers can provide a protected and nutrient-rich environment to the epiphytic microflora,thus representing a sensible entry point for pathogens such as Pseudomonas syringae pv.actinidiae(Psa).This bacterium can colonize both male and female Actinidia flowers,causing flower browning and fall,and systemic invasion of the host plant,eventually leading to its death.However,the process of flower colonization and penetration into the host tissues has not yet been fully elucidated.In addition,the presence of Psa in the pollen from infected flowers,and the role of pollination in the spread of Psa requires confirmation.The present study employed a Psa strain constitutively expressing the fluorescent GFPuv protein,to visualize in vivo flower colonization.Microscopy observations were performed by means of confocal laser scanning and wide-field fluorescent microscopy,and were coupled with the study of Psa population dynamics by quantitative PCR(q-PCR).The pathogen was shown to colonize stigmata,move along the stylar furrow,and penetrate the receptacles via the style or nectarhodes.Once the receptacle was invaded,the pathogen migrated along the flower pedicel and became systemic.Psa was also able to colonize the anthers epiphytically and endophytically.Infected male flowers produced contaminated pollen,which could transmit Psa to healthy plants.Finally,pollinators(Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris)were studied in natural conditions,showing that,although they can be contaminated with Psa,the pathogen’s transmission via pollinators is contrasted by its short survival in the hive.

Application of omics technologies for a deeper insight into quali-quantitative production traits in broiler chickens:A review

The poultry industry is continuously facing substantial and different challenges such as the increasing cost of feed ingredients, the European Union's ban of antibiotic as growth promoters, the antimicrobial resistance and the high incidence of muscle myopathies and breast meat abnormalities. In the last decade, there has been an extraordinary development of many genomic techniques able to describe global variation of genes, proteins and metabolites expression level. Proper application of these cutting-edge omics technologies(mainly transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) paves the possibility to understand much useful information about the biological processes and pathways behind different complex traits of chickens. The current review aimed to highlight some important knowledge achieved through the application of omics technologies and proteo-genomics data in the field of feed efficiency, nutrition, meat quality and disease resistance in broiler chickens.

A review of the resistome within the digestive tract of livestock

Antimicrobials have been widely used to prevent and treat infectious diseases and promote growth in food-production animals.However,the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance poses a huge threat to public and animal health,especial y in less developed countries where food-producing animals often intermingle with humans.To limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance from food-production animals to humans and the environment,it is essential to have a comprehensive knowledge of the role of the resistome in antimicrobial resistance(AMR),The resistome refers to the col ection of al antimicrobial resistance genes associated with microbiota in a given environment.The dense microbiota in the digestive tract is known to harbour one of the most diverse resistomes in nature.Studies of the resistome in the digestive tract of humans and animals are increasing exponential y as a result of advancements in next-generation sequencing and the expansion of bioinformatic resources/tools to identify and describe the resistome.In this review,we outline the various tools/bioinformatic pipelines currently available to characterize and understand the nature of the intestinal resistome of swine,poultry,and ruminants.We then propose future research directions including analysis of resistome using long-read sequencing,investigation in the role of mobile genetic elements in the expression,function and transmission of AMR.This review outlines the current knowledge and approaches to studying the resistome in food-producing animals and sheds light on future strategies to reduce antimicrobial usage and control the spread of AMR both within and from livestock production systems.

Effect of diets supplemented with linseed alone or combined with vitamin E and selenium or with plant extracts,on Longissimus thoracis transcriptome in growing-finishing Italian Large White pigs

Background: Supplementing farm animals diet with functional ingredients may improve the nutritional quality of meat products.Diet composition has been also demonstrated to influence the gene expression with effect on biological processes and pathways.However,the knowledge on the effect of nutrients at the molecular level is scant.In particular,studies on the effects of antioxidants and polyphenols dietary supplementation have been investigated mainly in rodents,and only scarcely in farm animals so far.RNA-Seq with next-generation sequencing is increasingly the method of choice for studying changes in the transcriptome and it has been recently employed also in pig nutrigenomics studies to identify diet-induced changes in gene expression.The present study aimed to investigate the effect of diets enriched with functional ingredients(linseed,vitamin E and plant extracts) on the transcriptome of pig Longissimus thoracis to elucidate the role of these compounds in influencing genes involved in muscle physiology and metabolism compared to a standard diet.Results: Eight hundred ninety-three significant differentially expressed genes(DEGs)(FDR adjusted P-value ≤ 0.05)were detected by RNA-Seq analysis in the three diet comparisons(D2-D1,D3-D1,D4-D1).The functional analysis of DEGs showed that the diet enriched with n-3 PUFA from linseed(D2) mostly downregulated genes in pathways and biological processes(BPs) related to muscle development,contraction,and glycogen metabolism compared to the standard diet.The diet supplemented with linseed and vitamin E/Selenium(D3) showed to mostly downregulate genes linked to oxidative phosphorylation.Only few genes involved in extracellular matrix(ECM)organization were upregulated by the D3.Finally,the comparison D4-D1 showed that the diet supplemented with linseed and plant extracts(D4) upregulated the majority of genes compared to D1 that were involved in a complex network of pathways and BPs all connected by hub genes.In particular,IGF2 was a hub gene connecting protein metabolism,ECM organization,immune system and lipid biosynthesis pathways.Conclusion: The supplementation of pig diet with n-3 PUFA from linseed,antioxidants and plant-derived polyphenols can influence the expression of a relevant number of genes in Longissimus thoracis muscle that are involved in a variety of biochemical pathways linked to muscle function and metabolism.

Effects of brewers' spent grain protein hydrolysates on gas production, ruminal fermentation characteristics, microbial protein synthesis and microbial community in an artificial rumen fed a high grain diet

Background: Brewers' spent grain(BSG) typically contains 20% – 29% crude protein(CP) with high concentrations of glutamine, proline and hydrophobic and non-polar amino acid, making it an ideal material for producing valueadded products like bioactive peptides which have antioxidant properties. For this study, protein was extracted from BSG, hydrolyzed with 1% alcalase and flavourzyme, with the generated protein hydrolysates(AlcH and FlaH)showing antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the effects of AlcH and FlaH on gas production, ruminal fermentation characteristics, nutrient disappearance, microbial protein synthesis and microbial community using an artificial rumen system(RUSITEC) fed a high-grain diet.Results: As compared to the control of grain only, supplementation of FlaH decreased(P < 0.01) disappearances of dry matter(DM), organic matter(OM), CP and starch, without affecting fibre disappearances;while AlcH had no effect on nutrient disappearance. Neither AlcH nor FlaH affected gas production or VFA profiles, however they increased(P < 0.01) NH_3-N and decreased(P < 0.01) H_2 production. Supplementation of FlaH decreased(P < 0.01)the percentage of CH_4 in total gas and dissolved-CH_4(dCH_4) in dissolved gas. Addition of monensin reduced(P < 0.01) disappearance of nutrients, improved fermentation efficiency and reduced CH_4 and H_2 emissions.Total microbial nitrogen production was decreased(P < 0.05) but the proportion of feed particle associated(FPA) bacteria was increased with FlaH and monensin supplementation. Numbers of OTUs and Shannon diversity indices of FPA microbial community were unaffected by AlcH and FlaH;whereas both indices were reduced(P < 0.05) by monensin. Taxonomic analysis revealed no effect of AlcH and FlaH on the relative abundance(RA) of bacteria at phylum level, whereas monensin reduced(P < 0.05) the RA of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and enhanced Proteobacteria. Supplementation of FlaH enhanced(P < 0.05) the RA of genus Prevotella, reduced Selenomonas, Shuttleworthia, Bifidobacterium and Dialister as compared to control;monensin reduced(P < 0.05) RA of genus Prevotella but enhaced Succinivibrio.Conclusions: The supplementation of FlaH in high-grain diets may potentially protect CP and starch from ruminal degradation, without adversely affecting fibre degradation and VFA profiles. It also showed promising effects on reducing CH_4 production by suppressing H_2 production. Protein enzymatic hydrolysates from BSG using flavourzyme showed potential application to high value-added bio-products.