Enhanced viability of Lactobacillus reuteri for probiotics production in mixed solid-state fermentation in the presence of Bacillus subtilis

In order to develop a multi-microbe probiotic preparation of Lactobacillus reuteri G8-5 and Bacillus subtilis MA139 in solid-state fermentation, a series of parameters were optimized sequentially in shake flask culture. The effect of supplementation of B. subtilis MA139 as starters on the viability of L. reuteri G8-5 was also explored. The results showed that the optimized process was as follows: water content, 50 %; initial pH of diluted molasses, 6.5; inocula volume, 2 %; flask dry contents, 30～35 g/250 g without sterilization; and fermentation time, 2 days. The multi-microbial preparations finally provided the maximum concentration of Lactobacillus of about 9.01?±?0.15 log CFU/g and spores of Bacillus of about 10.30?±?0.08 log CFU/g. Compared with pure fermentation of L. reuteri G8-5, significantly high viable cells, low value of pH, and reducing sugar in solid substrates were achieved in mixed fermentation in the presence of B. subtilis MA139 (P?<?0.05). Meanwhile, the mixed fermentation showed the significantly higher antimicrobial activity against E. coli K88 (P?<?0.05). Based on the overall results, the optimized process enhanced the production of multi-microbe probiotics in solid-state fermentation with low cost. Moreover, the viability of L. reuteri G8-5 could be significantly enhanced in the presence of B. subtilis MA139 in solid-state fermentation, which favored the production of probiotics for animal use.     

Measuring dominance and diversity in ecological communities: choosing the right variables

Abstract. Although there are many studies in searching for the most useful community diversity index, the importance of choosing an appropriate parameter has been neglected. Here, we examined dominance and diversity in early post-fire chaparral communities using different variables, i.e. plant density, cover and biomass. Significant different results were produced by applying different parameters and the difference may be caused by the inconsistency in density, cover, and biomass allocated in each life form. Among the three parameters, biomass was most successful in detecting differences among communities because the apportionment of biomass among species was more variable than that of density. Although the three species variables represent different aspects of community properties and their relative performance may vary among communities, we recommend the use of biomass or productivity data as the most appropriate variable because it can best represent per capita resource use and resource partitioning among organisms in competitive situations.     

Therapeutic efficacy of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore for treatment of neovascularization of retinal capillary (retinopathy) in diabetes--in vitro study.

The present study was designed to examine therapeutic efficacy of the root extract of Stephania Tetrandra S. Moore (STMS) (traditional Chinese medicine; Han Fang Ji) for treatment of neovascularization of the retinal capillary (retinopathy) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (STZ diabetic rats) in culture. Recently we have established the culture system in which fetal bovine serum (FBS) in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium (DMEM) induced neovascularization of the retinal capillary and choroidal capillary in normal rats in culture. STZ diabetic rats showed more neovascularization of the retinal capillary and choroidal capillary than did normal rats in culture. In this study, the retinal tissue was removed for the posterior ocular region and cultured in DMEM containing FBS. The choroidal tissue of the posterior ocular region was also removed and cultured as an internal reference. Administration of STSM (0.91, 9.1 and 91 microg/ml) significantly suppressed neovascularization of the retinal capillary in both STZ diabetic rats and normal rats in a dose-dependent manner. Similar results were obtained with the choroidal capillary; administration of STSM suppressed neovascularization of the choroidal capillary in both STZ diabetic rats and normal rats. In order to determine the component of STSM inhibiting neovascularization of the retinal capillary, tetrandrine (a major chemical constituent of STSM) was administered and neovascularization of the retinal capillary was examined in culture. The effect of tetrandrine on the choroidal capillary was also examined as an internal reference. Administration of tetrandrine (0.1, 1.0 and 10 microM) suppressed neovascularization of the retinal capillary in both STZ diabetic rats and normal rats in a dose-dependent manner. Similar results were obtained with the choroidal capillary of both STZ diabetic rats and normal rats. We infer, therefore, that STSM has a direct effect on the retinal capillary of posterior ocular region and suppresses neovascularization of retinal capillary in STZ diabetic rats through the activation of tetrandrine. These results suggest that STSM may prevent for delay the progression of retinopathy in diabetic patients.     

Active compounds in Populus nigra L. wilted leaves responsible for attracting Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lep., Noctuidae) and new agaropectin formulation

Abstract:  The leaf extracts of Populus nigra were collected and identified by steam distillation, air entrainment and gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analysis. Electroantennograms were recorded from Helicoverpa armigera adults in response to the chemicals identified. Both aromatic compounds and green-leaf volatiles elicited strong responses. Field experiments revealed that the active compounds responsible for attracting H. armigera moths are mainly short-side-chain aromatic alcohols and aldehydes. We, for the first time, used agaropectin as the controlled-release matrix of insect attractants. A five-component lure containing all the aromatics without phenolics, mixed in the proportions as found in the steam distillate of the leaves collected in August, produced the best trap catch. The results showed that the volatiles of wilted leaves of P. nigra can attract H. armigera adults by feeding attraction.     

Detection of Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2, carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products, in dialysis fluid of patients with uremia

In order to estimate the exposure levels of mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amines in humans, we developed a high-performance liquid chromatography method to detect 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2) in dialysis fluid of patients with uremia. Using this methods, dialysis fluid of 12 patients who had received hemodialysis treatment or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis was examined. Trp-P-1 was detected in dialysate of all uremic patients (727 +/- 282 pmoles, n = 12). In patients who had been treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, the average amount of Trp-P-1 found in whole dialysate (6 l) per day was 710 +/- 203 pmoles (mean +/- S.D., n = 8). Moreover, Trp-P-2 could be detected in 5 out of 12 patients (206 +/- 85 pmoles, n = 5). These results indicate that patients with uremia are actually exposed to carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products. The average exposure level of Trp-P-1 in uremic patients apparently exceeded 710 pmoles (150 ng) per day.     

Development of the alt Mutant of Pisum sativum L

The alt (albina-terminalis) mutant of Pisum sativum L. germinates normally, produces several nodes, and then above a sharp transition produces 2 to 3 bleached nodes, ceases growth, and eventually dies. Green nodes have normal chlorophyll content, absorption spectra, photosynthetic rates, and ultrastructure. In bleaching tissues, the chloroplasts degenerate rapidly, followed by extensive disruption and loss of the remaining cytoplasm and organelles. Application of tissue extracts of normal genotypes of pea, corn, and bean stimulates apical development of alt. The resulting tissues have essentially normal structure and function. Application of thiamine, thiamine monophosphate, and thiamine pyrophosphate also stimulate normal apical development at concentrations of 1 micromolar and above. Partial characterization of the stimulus from pea seed extracts is consistent with thiamine as the active factor.     

五种雀形目鸟类核型的比较研究

染色体核型的比较研究,对于了解物种的特性,探索物种的遗传、进化、系统发育及分类地位都有一定的意义。有关鸟类的核型研究,国外已有不少报道(Castrovicja,1969; Hammar,1966,1975; Ray-Chaudhuri et al.,1969;Shidds,1982;Ta—kagi,1972等)国内在这方面的工作开展较迟,已作过核型分析的鸟类为数不多,仅见王应祥等(1982)的报道。迄今,作过核型研究的鸟类已达500多种,其中雀形目有200种。本文比较分析了五种野生雀形目鸟类的核型,它们是黑头蜡嘴雀,斑鸫,黄腹山雀,红尾伯劳和灰背椋鸟。     

Prohead and DNA-gp3-dependent ATPase activity of the DNA packaging protein gp16 of bacteriophage phi 29

The ATPase activity of the DNA packaging protein gp16 (gene product 16) of bacteriophage phi 29 was studied in the completely defined in-vitro assembly system. ATP was hydrolyzed to ADP and Pi in the packaging reaction that included purified proheads, DNA-gp3 and gp16. Approximately one molecule of ATP was used in the packaging of 2 base-pairs of phi 29 DNA, or 9 X 10(3) ATP molecules per virion. The hydrolysis of ATP by gp16 was both prohead and DNA-gp3 dependent. gp16 contained both the "A-type" and the "B-type" ATP-binding consensus sequences (Walker et al., 1982) and the predicted secondary structure for ATP binding. The A-type sequence of gp16 was "basic-hydrophobic region-G-X2-G-X-G-K-S-X7-hydrophobic", and similar sequences were found in the phage DNA packaging proteins gpA of lambda, gp19 of T7 and gp17 of T4. Having both the ATP-binding and potential magnesium-binding domains, all of these proteins probably function as ATPases and may have common prohead-binding capabilities. The phi 29 protein gp3, covalently bound to the DNA, may be analogous in function to proteins gpNul of lambda and gpl of phi 21 that bind the DNA.     

Effects of some alcohols on the conformation of mitochondrial H+-ATPase complex and F1-ATPase from pig heart

The conformations of the H+-ATPase complex and F1-ATPase in low concentrations of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol and t-butanol were studied by circular dichroism. For F1-ATPase, all but methanol first increased and then decreased the circular dichroism magnitude of helical bands as the alcohol concentration was increased. With ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol and t-butanol, the alpha-helix content reached a maximum at about 5% alcohol and began to decrease at 10%. The content of beta-sheet showed the opposite effect, reaching a minimum at 5% and increasing slightly at higher concentrations. None of the alcohols studied had a significant effect on the conformation of the H+-ATPase complex. This difference implies that the alcohols had a greater effect on free F1-ATPase than on the membrane-bound F1-ATPase. The hydrophobic protein F0 and the membrane lipids in the H+-ATPase complex may stabilize and protect F1 from the effects of the alcohols.