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Current Microbiology Jul 2024Turkey litter waste is lignocellulosic and keratinous, requiring prior enzymatic treatment to facilitate fiber hydrolysis and utilization by microorganisms in anaerobic...
Turkey litter waste is lignocellulosic and keratinous, requiring prior enzymatic treatment to facilitate fiber hydrolysis and utilization by microorganisms in anaerobic digestion (AD) process. The understanding of the performance of microorganisms in AD can be facilitated through molecular biology and bioinformatics tools. This study aimed to determine the taxonomic profile and functional prediction of microbial communities in the AD of turkey litter waste subjected to enzymatic pretreatment and correlate it with operational parameters. The tests involved the use of turkey litter (T) at 25 g L of volatile solids, a granular inoculum (S) (10% m/v), and the addition of cellulase (C), and pectinase (P) enzymes at four concentrations. The use of enzymes increased methane production by 19% (turkey litter, inoculum, and cellulase-TSC4) and 15% (turkey litter, inoculum, and enzymatic pectinase-TSP4) compared to the control (turkey litter and inoculum-TS), being more effective in TSC4 (667.52 mLCH), where there was consumption of acetic, butyric, and propionic acids. The pectinase assay (TSP4) showed a methane production of 648 mLCH and there was the accumulation of metabolites. Cellulolytic microorganisms Bacteroides, Ruminofilibacter, Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Methanosaeta were favored in TSC4. In TSP4, the predominant genus was Macellibacteroides and Methanosarcina, and genes involved in methylotrophic methanogenesis were also found (mtaB, mtmB, and mtbB). Enzymes involved in hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis were identified in both assays (TSC4 and TSP4). Molecular tools helped to understand the metabolic routes involved in AD with enzymatic treatment, allowing the elaboration of strategies to improve the sustainable degradation of turkey litter waste.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Animals; Methane; Cellulase; Bacteria; Turkeys; Polygalacturonase; Hydrolysis; Lignin; Agriculture; Metagenomics
PubMed: 38955830
DOI: 10.1007/s00284-024-03787-6 -
Poultry Science Jun 2024This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary Bacillus velezensis KNF-209 (BV-KNF-209) on the growth performance, immunity, and gut health of broilers. A total...
This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary Bacillus velezensis KNF-209 (BV-KNF-209) on the growth performance, immunity, and gut health of broilers. A total of 540 one-day-old male Cobb-500 broilers were randomly divided into 5 groups of 6 replicates with 18 broilers per replicate. Dietary treatments were corn-soybean meal basal diets supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BV-KNF-209 (CON, BV 50, BV 100, BV 200, and BV 400 groups, respectively) for 42 d. Compared with the CON group, the average daily gains (ADG) at 0 to 42 d in the BV 100 and BV 200 groups were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the feed-to-gain (F:G) ratios were significantly decreased at 0 to 21 d (P < 0.01) and 0 to 42 d (P < 0.05). The BV 200 and BV 400 groups had higher serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels at d 21 and 42 (P < 0.05). The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly decreased in the BV 50, BV 100, and BV 200 groups at d 21 (P < 0.05), and serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels were also reduced in the BV 100 and BV 200 groups at d 42 (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, increased interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in the jejunal and ileal mucosa at d 42 were observed in the BV 100, BV 200, and BV 400 groups (P < 0.05), while the IL-1β and IL-6 levels (P < 0.01) were decreased. The BV 200 and BV 400 groups showed significantly higher activities of lipase and trypsin (P < 0.05) in jejunal digesta as well as higher activities of amylase and trypsin (P < 0.01) in ileal digesta at d 42. The cecal acetic acid and propionic acid levels in the BV groups and lactic acid levels in the BV 50, BV 100, and BV 200 groups (P < 0.05) were significantly higher compared to those in the CON group. Overall, dietary BV-KNF-209 supplementation significantly improved broiler growth performance, an effect that may have been achieved by heightening immunity, increasing digestive enzyme activity, and raising intestinal short-chain fatty acids and lactic acid levels.
PubMed: 38954902
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103946 -
Photochemistry and Photobiology Jul 2024Aiming at the application to photodynamic therapy, natural bacteriochlorophyll-a was converted to chemically stable free-base derivatives possessing different kinds of...
Aiming at the application to photodynamic therapy, natural bacteriochlorophyll-a was converted to chemically stable free-base derivatives possessing different kinds of hydrophilic C17-propionate residues. These semi-synthetic bacteriochlorins were found to have self-assembling ability in an aqueous environment and formed stable J-type aggregates in a cell culture medium containing 0.2% DMSO. The electronic absorption spectra of all the sensitizers showed Q absorption maxima at 754 nm in DMSO as their monomeric states, while a drastic shift of the red-most bands to ca. 880 nm was observed in the aqueous medium. The circular dichroism spectra in the medium showed much intense signals compared to those measured in DMSO, supporting the formation of well-ordered supramolecular structures. By introducing hydrophilic side chains, the bacteriochlorin sensitizers could be dispersed in the aqueous medium as their J-aggregates without the use of any surfactants. Cellular uptake efficiencies as well as photodynamic activities were evaluated using human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells. Among the 11 photosensitizers investigated, the best result was obtained for a charged derivative possessing trimethylammonium terminal (17-CHCHCOOCHCHN(CH)I) and photocytotoxicity of EC = 0.09 μM was achieved by far-red light illumination of 35 J/cm from an LED panel (730 nm).
PubMed: 38953399
DOI: 10.1111/php.13995 -
Journal of the Science of Food and... Jul 2024Laminaria japonica polysaccharide, which is an important bioactive substance of Laminaria japonica with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, the...
BACKGROUND
Laminaria japonica polysaccharide, which is an important bioactive substance of Laminaria japonica with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, the molecular weight, functional groups and surface morphology were investigated to evaluate the digestive properties of Laminaria japonica polysaccharide before and after steam explosion.
RESULTS
The results indicated that the Laminaria japonica polysaccharide entered the large intestine to be utilized by the gut microbiota after passing through the oral, gastric and small intestinal. Meanwhile, Laminaria japonica polysaccharide of steam explosion promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria Phascolarctobacterium and Intestinimonas, and increased the content of acetic, propionic and butyric acids, which was 2.29-folds, 2.60-folds and 1.63-folds higher than the control group after 48 h of fermentation.
CONCLUSION
This study reveals that the effect of steam explosion pretreatment on the digestion in vitro and gut microbiota of Laminaria japonica polysaccharide will provide a basic theoretical basis for the potential application of Laminaria japonica polysaccharide as a prebiotic in the food industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
PubMed: 38953304
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13714 -
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary... May 2024Improper use of over-the-counter (OTC) steroid medication has been linked to recalcitrant dermatophytosis. There is proven evidence of HPA axis suppression by the use of...
BACKGROUND
Improper use of over-the-counter (OTC) steroid medication has been linked to recalcitrant dermatophytosis. There is proven evidence of HPA axis suppression by the use of long-term oral steroids. This study aims to determine the prevalence and pattern of inappropriate OTC steroid use and its effects on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in adults with recalcitrant dermatophytosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This cross-sectional study of 2 months was conducted in a hospital setting and included patients of recalcitrant dermatophytosis with a history of OTC steroid use. Clinico-demographic details and basal serum cortisol levels were recorded in all and analyzed.
RESULT
Of a total of 103 patients, 59.22% ( = 61/103) were males, and the mean duration of steroid abuse was 17.78 months. About 48.54% ( = 50/103), 3.88% ( = 4/103), and 47.57% ( = 49/103) patients reported the use of topical steroids, oral steroids, and both oral and topical steroids, respectively. Among all the topical steroid users ( = 99), clobetasol propionate 48.48% ( = 48/99), while among oral steroid users ( = 53), prednisolone 45.28% ( = 24/53) were the most commonly used agents, respectively. The morning serum cortisol levels (8-9 AM) were found to be decreased in 42.7% ( = 44/103), with a mean value of 44.28 ± 17.34 μg/dL.
CONCLUSION
Improper OTC steroid use in recalcitrant dermatophytosis leads to HPA axis suppression. This highlights the need for intervention from apex health officials.
PubMed: 38948600
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1330_23 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024The Salkowski reagent method is a colorimetric technique used to determine auxin production, specifically as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). It was developed to determine...
INTRODUCTION
The Salkowski reagent method is a colorimetric technique used to determine auxin production, specifically as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). It was developed to determine indoles rapidly; however, it does not follow Beer's law at high concentrations of IAA. Thus, there could be an overestimation of IAA with the Salkowski technique due to the detection of other indole compounds.
METHODS
This study aims to compare the Salkowski colorimetric method versus a chromatographic method to evidence the imprecision or overestimation obtained when auxins, such as indole-acetic acid (IAA), are determined as traits from promoting growth plant bacteria (PGPB), using ten different strains from three different isolation sources. The analysis used the same bacterial culture to compare the Salkowski colorimetric and chromatographic results. Each bacterium was cultivated in the modified TSA without or with tryptophan for 96 h. The same supernatant culture was used in both methods: Salkowski reagent and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS).
RESULTS
The first method indicated 5.4 to 27.4 mg L without tryptophan in ten evaluated strains. When tryptophan was used as an inductor of auxin production, an increase was observed with an interval from 4.4 to 160 mg L. The principal auxin produced by all strains was IAA from that evaluated by the LC-MS/MS method, with significantly higher concentration with tryptophan addition than without. Strains belonging to the genus were highlighted by high IAA production. The indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) was detected in all the bacterial cultures without tryptophan and only in As05 with tryptophan, while it was not detected in other strains. In addition, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was detected at trace levels (13-16 µg L).
CONCLUSIONS
The Salkowski reagent overestimates the IAA concentration with an interval of 41-1042 folds without tryptophan and 7-16330 folds with tryptophan as inductor. In future works, it will be necessary to determine IAA or other auxins using more suitable sensitive techniques and methodologies.
PubMed: 38947947
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1378079 -
International Journal of Food... Jun 2024In feed, propionic acid is the weak organic acid of choice to prevent growth of spoilage fungi. For safe and easy industrial handling this antifungal agent is applied in...
Synergistic antifungal effects of the preservative ammonium propionate and medium chain fatty acids against dormant and germinating conidia, germ tubes and hyphae of Aspergillus chevalieri, a feed spoilage fungus.
In feed, propionic acid is the weak organic acid of choice to prevent growth of spoilage fungi. For safe and easy industrial handling this antifungal agent is applied in the presence of neutralizing ammonium, which however has the disadvantage to negatively affect the efficacy of fungus-inhibiting properties of the formulation. In the present study we investigated the impact of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) on the antifungal efficacy of an ammonium propionate formulation on dormant- and germinating conidia as well as germ tubes and hyphae of Aspergillus chevalieri, a xerophilic fungus predominant on moulded feed. Dormant conidia were not affected by 32 mM of ammonium propionate after a 28 h-treatment in demi water. Similar results were obtained with solely 0.52 mM MCFA. However, the combination of both components nearly eradicated formation of colonies from these conidia and was accompanied by distortion of the cellular structure as was visible with light- and transmission electron microscopy. Germination of conidia, characterised by swelling and germ tube formation, was significantly decreased in the presence of 16 mM ammonium propionate and 0.26 mM MCFA, while the latter component itself did not significantly decrease germination. We conclude that a combination of ammonium propionate and MCFA had a synergistic antifungal effect on dormant and germinating conidia. When the combination of ammonium propionate and MCFA was tested on hyphae for 30 min, we observed that cell death was significantly increased in comparison to components alone. Treatment of the hyphae with 16 mM of ammonium propionate caused aberrant mitochondria, as evidenced by irregularly shaped and enlarged mitochondria that contained electron-dense inclusions as observed by transmission electron microscopy. When the combination of ammonium propionate and MCFA was applied against the hyphae, more severe cell damage was observed, with signs of autophagy. Summarised, our results demonstrate synergistic antifungal effects of ammonium propionate and medium chain fatty acids on fungal survival structures, during their germination and after a short (sudden) treatment of growing cells. This is of potential importance for several areas of feed and food storage and shelf-life.
PubMed: 38943772
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110802 -
Animal Microbiome Jun 2024Pinus koraiensis cone essential oil (PEO) contains functional compounds such as monoterpene hydrocarbons, and the administration of PEO reduced methane (CH) emissions...
Metataxonomic and metabolomic profiling revealed Pinus koraiensis cone essential oil reduced methane emission through affecting ruminal microbial interactions and host-microbial metabolism.
BACKGROUND
Pinus koraiensis cone essential oil (PEO) contains functional compounds such as monoterpene hydrocarbons, and the administration of PEO reduced methane (CH) emissions during growing phase of goats. However, the mode of action of PEO driven CH reduction is not known, especially how the administration of PEO can affect rumen microbiota and host metabolism in goats during the fattening phase. This study aimed to elucidate the potential microbial and host responses PEO supplementation in goats using metataxonomics (prokaryotes and protozoa) and metabolomics (rumen fluid and serum).
RESULTS
Ten fattening Korean native goats were divided into two dietary groups: control (CON; basal diet without additives) and PEO (basal diet + 1.5 g/d of PEO) with a 2 × 2 crossover design and the treatment lasted for 11 weeks. Administration of PEO reduced CH concentrations in the exhaled gas from eructation by 12.0-13.6% (P < 0.05). Although the microbial composition of prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) and protozoa in the rumen was not altered after PEO administration. MaAsLin2 analysis revealed that the abundance of Selenomonas, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and Anaerovibrio were enriched in the rumen of PEO supplemented goats (Q < 0.1). Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group and Anaerovibrio were the keystone taxa in the CON and PEO groups, respectively. Methane metabolism (P < 0.05) was enriched in the CON group, whereas metabolism of sulfur (P < 0.001) and propionate (P < 0.1) were enriched in the PEO group based on microbial predicted functions. After PEO administration, the abundance of 11 rumen and 4 serum metabolites increased, whereas that of 25 rumen and 14 serum metabolites decreased (P < 0.1). Random forest analysis identified eight ruminal metabolites that were altered after PEO administration, among which four were associated with propionate production, with predictive accuracy ranging from 0.75 to 0.88. Additionally, we found that serum sarcosine (serum metabolite) was positively correlated with CH emission parameters and abundance of Methanobrevibacter in the rumen (|r|≥ 0.5, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that PEO administration reduced CH emission from of fattening goats with altered microbial interactions and metabolites in the rumen and host. Importantly, PEO administration affected utilizes various mechanisms such as formate, sulfur, methylated amines metabolism, and propionate production, collectively leading to CH reduction. The knowledge is important for future management strategies to maintain animal production and health while mitigate CH emission.
PubMed: 38943213
DOI: 10.1186/s42523-024-00325-4 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation is one of the most efficient methods for the preparation of chiral α-substituted propionic acids. However, research...
Transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation is one of the most efficient methods for the preparation of chiral α-substituted propionic acids. However, research on this method, employing cleaner earth-abundant metal catalysts, is still insufficient in both academic and industrial contexts. Herein, we report an efficient nickel-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-substituted acrylic acids affording the corresponding chiral α-substituted propionic acids with up to 99.4% ee (enantiomeric excess) and 10,000 S/C (substrate/catalyst). In particular, this method can be used to obtain (R)-dihydroartemisinic acid with 99.8:0.2 dr (diastereomeric ratio) and 5000 S/C, which is an essential intermediate for the preparation of the antimalarial drug Artemisinin. The reaction mechanism has been investigated via experiments and DFT (Density Functional Theory) calculations, which indicate that the protonolysis of the C-Ni bond of the key intermediate via an intramolecular proton transfer from the carboxylic acid group of the substrate, is the rate-determining step.
PubMed: 38942809
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49801-0 -
Journal of Dairy Science Jul 2024The objective was to evaluate the effects of separate offering of feed ingredients (SF) and frequency of concentrate feeding versus offering a TMR, on lactational...
Separate offering of forages and concentrates to lactating dairy cows: Effects on lactational performance, enteric methane emission, and efficiency of nutrient utilization.
The objective was to evaluate the effects of separate offering of feed ingredients (SF) and frequency of concentrate feeding versus offering a TMR, on lactational performance, ruminal fermentation, enteric CH emissions, nutrient digestibility, N use efficiency, milk fatty acid profile, and blood variables in mid-lactation dairy cows. Twenty-four Holstein cows (12 primi- and 12 multiparous) averaging (±SD) 141 ± 35 DIM and 43 ± 6 kg/d of milk yield (MY) at the beginning of the study were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment with 3 periods of 28 d each, composed of 7 d for adaptation to the diets, 11 d for estimation of net energy and metabolizable protein requirements, and 10 d for data and samples collection. Cows were grouped based on parity, DIM, and MY into 4 Latin squares. Treatment allocation was balanced for carryover effects, and cows within square were assigned to (1) basal diet fed ad libitum as TMR; (2) basal diet fed as SF with forages fed ad libitum and concentrates fed 3×/d (SF×3); or (3) basal diet fed as SF with forages fed ad libitum and concentrates fed 6×/d (SF×6). Compared with TMR, SF decreased total DMI by 1.2 kg/d. Treatments did not affect MY, milk components, or ECM yield, except for a decrease in milk fat concentration and an increase in milk urea N by SF×3, compared with TMR. Feed efficiency (kg of MY/kg of DMI) was increased by 7% in SF, compared with TMR. Ruminal molar proportion of acetate and acetate-to-propionate ratio were decreased, whereas molar proportion of propionate was increased by SF×3, compared with TMR and SF×6. There was a 9% decrease in daily CH production by SF, compared with TMR. Enteric CH yield (per kg of DMI) was not affected by treatments in the current study. Methane intensity per kilogram of MY tended to be decreased by 10% in SF, compared with TMR. The sums of odd- and branched-chain, odd-chain, and anteiso milk fatty acids tended to be or were increased by SF, compared with TMR. Intake of nutrients tended to be or were decreased by SF, compared with TMR. The digestibility of amylase-treated NDF tended to be decreased and ADF digestibility was decreased by 3% in SF, compared with TMR. Urinary and fecal N excretions were not affected by treatments. As a percentage of total N intake, separate offering of feed ingredients increased milk N secretion, indicating an increased N use efficiency by SF, compared with TMR. Blood total fatty acid concentration was decreased by SF relative to TMR. Compared with both TMR and SF×6, SF×3 increased blood urea N concentration. Overall, feed and N use efficiencies were increased by separate offering of feed ingredients, and increasing the frequency of concentrate feeding promoted ruminal fermentation effects similar to those obtained by feeding a TMR.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Lactation; Female; Milk; Diet; Methane; Animal Feed; Digestion; Nutrients; Rumen; Fermentation
PubMed: 38942562
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24261