Anti-nutritional characteristics and mechanism of soybean agglutinin

Soybean agglutinin(SBA)is an important anti-nutritional factor in soybean.SBA can induce animal growth inhibition,cause pathological changes of intestinal tissue,and decrease in the immune system functioning.Recently,a great deal of research has been done on the effects of SBA on cell morphology,division,apoptosis,autophagy,as well as the correlated signal transduction pathway.This review mainly covers the chemical and biological characteristics of SBA,describes the multifaceted aspects of SBA anti-nutritional functions,and highlights the possible cellular and molecular mechanism of anti-nutritional effects of SBA.This review has important implications for the prevention and treatment of SBA-induced diseases,drug development,processing techniques of plant products,prevention of food-borne toxins,as well as human and animal health protection.

Development of a reversed dispersive based graphene functionalized with multiwalled carbon nanotubes for detection ofβ2-agonists in pork by high-performance liquid chromatography

A reliable and inexpensive pretreatment procedure in the determination ofβ2-agonists in pork was developped.The procedure used a nanocomposite of multiwalled carbon nanotubes(CNTs)functionalized with graphene(rGO)as the reversed dispersive sorbent.It was analyzed after purification by highperformance liquid chromatography,the extraction time and the properties of the nanocomposite were optimized.Under optimized conditions,present method has linear response over concentration range of 0.5–50 ng/mL in pork samples with a satisfactory detection limit close to 0.1 ng/mL.The precisions of the current method(coefficient of variation)are lower than 5%,while recoveries are more than 98.3%.The nanocomposite exhibited high adsorptivity,long-term storage stability,satisfactory anti-interfering activity and high selectivity toward2-agonists compared with those of rGO and CNTs.

Bifidobacteria Upregulate Expression of Toll-Like Receptor Negative Regulators Counteracting Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>Mediated Inflammation in Bovine Intestinal Epitheliocytes

We previously established a bovine intestinal epithelial cell line (BIE cells) and showed that BIE cells are useful in vitro model system for the study of interactions between pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms and bovine intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). In the present study, we aimed to select potential immunomodulatory bifidobacteria that may be used to beneficially modulate the inflammatory response in bovine IECs. We also aimed to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of bifidobacteria by evaluating the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR negative regulators in the regulation of proinflammatory cytokines production and MAPK, NF-κB and PI3K pathways activation in BIE cells. Five bifidobacteria strains were evaluated in this study and according to their capacity to modulate the inflammatory response of BIE cells. Despite the unique effect of each strain, four common points were found when comparing the effect of the high and moderate anti-inflammatory strains: 1) Upregulation of TLR negative regulators and the intensity of that upregulation was related to the different immunomodulatory capacity of each bifidobacteria strain;2) The balance between MAPK activation and MKP-1 upregulation affected the anti-inflammatory effect of bifidobacteria in BIE cells;3) The inhibition of PI3K pathway was related to the anti-inflammatory effect of bifidobacteria;4) The immunoregulatory effect of bifidobacteria in BIE cells is partially dependent on TLR2. This study shows that BIE cells can be used for the selection of immunoregulatory bifidobacteria and for studying the mechanisms involved in the protective activity of immunobiotics against TLR4-induced inflammatory damage. In addition, we have demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory effect of bifidobacteria was achieved by a complex interaction of multiple TLRs negative regulators as well as the inhibition/activation of multiple signaling pathways.

Anthropogenic Impacts on Fish Populations in Lake Cayo (Republic of Congo, Central Africa)

Ichthyofaunal diversity and the impact of anthropogenic activities on fish population assemblages were studied in Lake Cayo, a small lake located in the coastal region of the Republic of Congo. Twelve stations were sampled twice over a two-year period. Fishing techniques following standardized methods utilizing monofilament gill nets, and nine environment variables were measured at each station. A total of 11,361 specimens comprising 30 species in 28 genera and 18 families were collected with the Cichlidae being the most diversified. Redundancy Analysis with forward selection coupled with Monte Carlo permutation tests identified depth, pH and substrate as accounting for 57.7% of the total variance among the nine variables sampled (p < 0.05). The low Shannon’s diversity (1.16 ± 0.33) and Equitability (0.43 ± 0.12) indices at all sites, suggest that the Lake Cayo system is in poor ecological health.

Biofilm Formation by <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>and Related Bacteria

Caries is a disease of human dentition characterized by the loss of mineralized surfaces of the tooth;it is an infectious disease of the oral cavity in which biofilms play a causative role. Control of biofilms has traditionally relied on non-specific removal of plaque by mechanical means such as brushing, although it is difficult to remove biofilms by this method. Caries is also a widespread infection in children. Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus are important causative agents of caries. They produce a homologous exocellular polysaccharide called glucan, which strongly adheres to the enamel surface. This is a review of oral microbial biofilm formation by S. mutans and other related bacteria.

Quantitative Microbiological Evaluation of <i>Salmonella</i>Typhimurium Shed in Diarrhea, Loose, and Normal Stools of Infected Pigs

Control of within-herd transmission of Salmonella is important for reducing the prevalence of this organism on pig farms and for preventing Salmonella-contamination of pork. At the farm level, understanding the within-herd transmission of Salmonella can lead to more effective control. Salmonella infection is dependent on the inoculation dose;hence, quantitative evaluation of Salmonella shed in feces would provide useful information for developing effective measures. In this study, to reproduce and evaluate the number of Salmonella shed in diarrhea, loose stools, and normal feces, weaned pigs were inoculated with 3.2 × 109, 3.2 × 107, and 3.2 × 105 cfu of Salmonella Typhimurium, respectively. The number of S. Typhimurium shed in the feces peaked within 1 week post-inoculation in every group and the most amount of diarrhea and loose stools were observed within 2 weeks post-inoculation. Diarrhea occurred 10 times (six pigs), and loose stools were observed 25 times (11 pigs). The average concentration of S. Typhimurium shed in diarrhea, loose stools, and normal feces was 1.0 × 108, 1.6 × 104, and 7.1 × 101 cfu/g feces, respectively. These data suggest that diarrhea and loose stools are significant sources of within-herd transmission of Salmonella. Moreover, as some of the normal feces contained >1.0 × 106 cfu/g of S. Typhimurium, even normal feces could be a source of within-herd transmission of Salmonella. At Salmonella-positive farms, reduction of the amount of Salmonella shed even in normal feces would lead to better control of within-herd transmission of Salmonella. These data can contribute to the control of within-herd transmission of Salmonella, particularly during the weaning period.

Influence of Different Sterilization Conditions on the Growth and Exopolysaccharide of <i>Streptococcus thermophilus</i>and Co-Cultivation with <i>Lactobacillus delbrueckii</i>subsp. <i>bulgaricus</i>OLL1073R-1

The sterilization conditions between experiment and dairy industrial level are different and concern about influence on product’s qualities. In this study, the fermentation properties of Streptococcus thermophilus, alone and in combination with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, were evaluated in skim milk that had been subjected to distinct sterilization conditions. Growth, organic acid generation, and EPS production were determined using pasteurized or autoclaved milk. When S. thermophilus was cultivated in pasteurized skim milk, the growth was strain-dependent. On the other hand, growth of S. thermophilus was accelerated in autoclaved milk. Exocellular polysaccharide (EPS) production by L. bulgaricus was not affected by the combination of S. thermophilus strains. Thus, we observed that yogurt fermented by L. bulgaricus was minimally affected by the combination of S. thermophilus strains;growth of L. bulgaricus was maintained under the constant environment. These results should facilitate the development of fermented milk produced from L. bulgaricus in the dairy industry.

Influence of dietary canola oil and palm oil blend and refrigerated storage on fatty acids,myofibrillar proteins,chemical composition,antioxidant profile and quality attributes of semimembranosus muscle in goats

Background： Improving the unsaturated fatty acid content of ruminant meat is essential due to the generally saturated nature of fatty acids in ruminant meat and the negative effects this can have on human health. Nonetheless, enhancing the unsaturated fatty acid content of ruminant meat can have adverse effects on the shelf life and quality attributes of the meat. This study assessed the effects of dietary 80 % canola oil and 20 % palm oil blend（CPOB） on fatty acid composition, antioxidants, oxidative spoilage, cholesterol and physicochemical properties of semimembranosus（SM）muscle from goats. Twenty four Boer bucks were randomly assigned to diets containing on dry matter basis 0, 4 and8 % CPOB, fed for 100 d and slaughtered. The carcasses were subjected to a 7 d postmortem refrigerated storage. Al analyses were conducted on the SM muscle.Results： Diet had no effect（P 〉 0.05） on the concentration of free thiol and carbonyl and the band intensity of myosin heavy chain, actin and troponin T. The muscle glycogen, p H, water holding capacity, tenderness, glutathione peroxidase（GPX） activity, total carotenoid, δ-tocopherol, cholesterol and proximate composition did not differ（P 〉 0.05） between diets. The SM muscle from goats fed 4 and 8 % CPOB had lower（P 〈 0.05） concentration of C14：0 and C16：0 and higher（P 〈 0.05） concentration of C18：1 trans-11, C18：1ω-9, C18：3ω-3, C20：5ω-3 and C22：5ω-3 than the SM muscle from the control goats. Dietary CPOB increased（P 〈 0.05） the concentration of α and γ tocopherol and meat redness（a＊） on d1 and 4 postmortem. Regardless of diet, antioxidant vitamins, and shear force decreased（P 〈 0.05） while drip loss, lipid and protein oxidation increased（P 〈 0.05） as postmortem storage progressed.Conclusion： Results evince that dietary CPOB can be used as a management tool to enhance the beneficial fatty acids and antioxidant contents of chevon without deleterious effects on its physicochemical properties and shelf life.

Paeoniflorin alleviates depression by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome via promoting mitochondrial autophagy

Depression ranks among the most common neuropsychiatric disorders globally.Current studies examining the roles of inflammation and mitochondrial autophagy in the antidepressant efficacy of paeoniflorin(PF)are sparse.This study aimed to elucidate PF’s antidepressant mechanism by promoting autophagy and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation using chronic unpredictable mild stimulation(CUMS)-induced C57BL/6 mouse models in vivo and corticosterone(CORT)-induced HT22 cell models in vitro.Results demonstrated that PF enhanced the viability of HT22 cells following CORT exposure,restored mitochondrial membrane poten-tial(MMP),reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation,increased LC3 fluorescence intensity,and suppressed inflammatory cy-tokine secretion and inflammation activation.Additionally,PF ameliorated depressive behaviors induced by CUMS and improved damage in hippocampal neurons.It also reduced the expression of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,and the assembly of the NLRP3 in-flammasome.Moreover,PF upregulated the expression of autophagy-related proteins in the hippocampus,facilitating the clearance of damaged mitochondria and enhancing autophagy.The role of autophagy in PF’s antidepressant effects was further confirmed through the use of the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA),which reduced the efficacy of PF.In conclusion,PF effectively improved depressive behaviors in CUMS-induced mice and reduced NLRP3-mediated inflammation both in vivo and in vitro,likely via the in-duction of autophagy.

HBsAg, HBcAg, and combined HBsAg/HBcAg-based therapeutic vaccines in treating chronic hepatitis B virus infection

BACKGROUND: As the host immunity is diminished in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), different approaches have been used to up-regulate their immune responses to produce therapeutic effects. But, cytokines, growth factors and polyclonal immune modulators could not exhibit sufficient therapeutic effects in these patients. Immune therapy with HBV-related antigens (vaccine therapy) has been used in CHB patients. But there is a paucity of information about the design of HBV antigen-based immune therapy in these patients. DATA SOURCE: Preclinical and clinical studies on immune therapy with HBsAg-based vaccine, HBcAg and combination of HBsAg/HBcAg-based vaccines have been discussed. RESULTS: HBsAg-based prophylactic vaccine was used as an immune therapeutic agent in CHB patients; however, monotherapy with HBsAg-based immune therapy could not lead to sustained control of HBV replication and/or liver damages. HBsAg-based vaccine was used as a combination therapy with cytokines, growth factors, and antiviral drugs. HBsAg-based vaccine was also used for cell-based therapy. However, satisfactory therapeutic effects of HBsAg-based vaccine could not be documented in CHB patients. In the mean time, evidences have supported that HBcAg-specific immunity is endowed with antiviral and liver protecting capacities in CHB patients. Recent data concentrate on the clinical use of combined HBsAg- and HBcAg-based vaccines in CHB patients.CONCLUSION: Antigen-based immune therapy with HBV- related antigens may be an alternative method for the treatment of CHB patients but proper designs of antigens, types of adjuvants, dose of vaccinations, and routes of administration need further analyses for the development of an effective regimen of immune therapy against HBV.

African swine fever virus MGF505-3R inhibits cGAS-STING-mediated IFN-βpathway activation by degrading TBK1

African swine fever virus(ASFV)is an important pathogen causing acute infectious disease in domestic pigs and wild boars that seriously endangers the global swine industry.As ASFV is structurally complex and encodes a large number of functional proteins,no effective vaccine has been developed to date.Thus,dissecting the mechanisms of immune escape induced by ASFV proteins is crucial.A previous study showed that the ASFV-encoded protein is an important factor in host immunity.In this study,we identified a negative regulator,MGF505-3R,that significantly downregulated cGAS/STING-and poly(dG:dC)-mediated IFN-βand interferon stimulation response element(ISRE)reporter activity and suppressed IFNB1 and IFIT2 mRNA levels.In addition,TBK1,IRF3 and IκBαphosphorylation levels were also inhibited.Mechanistically,MGF505-3R interacted with cGAS/TBK1/IRF3 and targeted TBK1 for degradation,thereby disrupting the cGAS-STING-mediated IFN-βsignaling pathway,which appears to be highly correlated with autophagy.Knockdown MGF505-3R expression enhanced IFN-βand IL-1βproduction.Taken together,our study revealed a negative regulatory mechanism involving the MGF505-3R-cGAS-STING axis and provided insights into an evasion strategy employed by ASFV that involves autophagy and innate signaling pathways.

Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterization of Porcine MyD88 Essential for TLR Signaling

We isolated cDNA encoding porcine MyD88 （poMyD88） from Peyer＇s patches （Pps） of GALT. The complete open reading frame （ORF） of poMyD88 contains 879 bp encoding a deduced 293 aa residues. The amino acid sequence of poMyD88 was characterized by N-terminal death, intermediate and C-terminal Toll/IL-1 receptor （TIR） domains. The putative poMyD88 protein shares a higher level of homology with its human （87.2% amino acid identity） than with its mouse （77.4% amino acid identity） counterpart. Overexpression of poMyD88 participated in the further enhanced activation of NF-w.B in human embryonic kidney （HEK） 293 cells expressing porcine TLR2 and porcine TLR4/MD-2, but not porcine RP105/MD-1 after stimulation with the corresponding ligands. The expression levels of MyD88 were highest in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes （MLNs）, and lower in digestive tissues of newborn swine. In adult swine, the expression levels in the digestive tissues were lower than those in MLNs and the spleen. These results suggest that an MyD88-dependent signaling pathway is present in newborn as well as in adult swine and that it is involved in the innate immune system of these animals.

Protective effect of recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum against H_(2)O_(2)-induced oxidative stress in HUVEC cells

This study probed the protective effect of recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum against hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).We constructed a new functional L.plantarum(NC8-pSIP409-alr-angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide(ACEIP))with a double-gene-labeled non-resistant screen as an expression vector.A 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide(MTT)colorimetric assay was carried out to determine the cell viability of HUVEC cells following pretreatment with NC8-pSIP409-alr-ACEIP.Flow cytometry(FCM)was used to determine the apoptosis rate of HUVEC cells.Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase(caspase)-3/8/9 activity was also assayed and western blotting was used to determine protein expression of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2(gp91phox),angiotensin II(AngII),and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2),as well as corresponding indicators of oxidative stress,such as reactive oxygen species(ROS),mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),malondialdehyde(MDA),and superoxide dismutase(SOD).NC8-pSIP409-alr-ACEIP attenuated H_(2)O_(2)-induced cell death,as determined by the MTT assay.NC8-pSIP409-alr-ACEIP reduced apoptosis of HUVEC cells by FCM.In addition,compared to the positive control,the oxidative stress index of the H_(2)O_(2)-induced HUVEC(Hy-HUVEC),which was pretreated by NC8-pSIP409-alr-ACEIP,iNOS,gp91phox,MDA,and ROS,was decreased obviously;SOD expression level was increased;caspase-3 or-9 was decreased,but caspase-8 did not change;Bcl-2/Bax ratio was increased;permeability changes of mitochondria were inhibited;and loss of transmembrane potential was prevented.Expression of the hypertension-related protein(AngII protein)in HUVEC cells protected by NC8-pSIP409-alr-ACEIP decreased and expression of ACE2 protein increased.These plantarum results suggested that NC8-pSIP409-alr-ACEIP protects against H_(2)O_(2)-induced injury in HUVEC cells.The mechanism for this effect is related to enhancement of antioxidant capacity and apoptosis.

Relationship between dietary amino acid release kinetics and nitrogen deposition in growing pigs

Although the protein content of swine diets is formulated based on the ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids(AA)under current nutrition requirements,the nitrogen utilization efficiency of swine varies based on protein source,which may be related to AA release kinetics.In this experiment,a 2×2 factorial arrangement with casein(CAS)-enriched or corn gluten meal(CGM)-enriched protein sources at different digestible crude protein levels(normal[N],13%;and low[L],11%)were applied to 24 crossbred(DurocLandraceYorkshire)growing pigs(average body weight=43.3±3.5 kg)in 4 treatments(N.CAS,L.CAS,N.CGM,L.CGM,respectively)to investigate the effects of AA release kinetics on nitrogen deposition in growing pigs.Standardized ileal digestible AA in all diets were balanced by adding individual AA to meet the nutrient requirements.The AA release kinetics were detected in vitro by measuring the hydrolysis of various protein diets under pepsin and trypsin conditions.The results demonstrated that the time of AA release peak in the CGM diet was 12 h later than that in the CAS diet.The synchronization indices of dietary AA release in N.CAS,N.CGM,L.CAS,and L.CGM were 23.73%,29.37%,23.40%,and 26.07%,respectively.The N.CGM had the poorest AA release synchronism while the N.CAS had the greatest among the 4 diets.However,within the pigs,L.CAS and N.CGM showed the highest(81.08%)and lowest(73.54%)nitrogen biological values,respectively,despite the standard ileal digestible AA levels being equal for all diets.These results indicate that the release kinetics of dietary AA had great effect on nitrogen deposition.To optimize nitrogen deposition,AA release kinetics and composition should be taken into consideration when formulating diets for growing pigs.