Changes in bacterial populations in the ileum of pigs fed low-phosphorus diets supplemented with different sources of fermentable carbohydrates

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of differently fermentable carbohydrates on changes in bacterial populations in the ileum of growing pigs fed low-phosphorus (P) diets. Eight barrows (mean surgery BW 36 ± 0.9 kg) were fitted with simple T-cannulae at the distal ileum and were assigned to one of four dietary treatments: maize-soybean meal based control diet (CD), or 0.75 of CD supplemented with 0.25 lignocellulose, maize starch and high-methylated apple-pectin, respectively. Total bacterial cell counts as well as cell counts of Lactobacillus spp., Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus amylovorus/Lactobacillus sobrius, Lactobacillus mucosae, Enterococcus spp., Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, bifidobacteria, Clostridium coccoides cluster, Clostridium leptum cluster, Bacteroides–Prevotella–Porphyrmonas group and Enterobacteriaceae were determined by quantitative realtime PCR in DNA extracts of ileal digesta. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of DNA fragments, generated by PCR targeting total or Lactobacillus spp. 16S rDNA, was used to estimate the bacterial diversity in the ileum. Lignocellulose supplementation tended (P<0.1) to increase cell counts of total bacteria in faeces compared with the control. Ileal bacterial populations responded differently to carbohydrate addition. Maize starch supplementation strongly stimulated the growth of total lactobacilli and Lactobacillus species (P≤0.05). Lignocellulose, in turn, enhanced the numbers of bifidobacteria, but reduced those of L. amylovorus compared with the control (P<0.05). Finally, pectin tended to increase the cell numbers of L. amylovorus/L. sobrius and the Bacteroides–Prevotella–Porphyrmonas group compared with the control (P<0.1). DGGE analysis revealed increased band numbers for total bacteria in the ileum of animals fed the lignocellulose and maize starch supplemented diets, while pectin reduced total bacterial (P<0.1) and Lactobacillus spp. diversity (P<0.05) compared with the control, as determined with the Shannon's index. Ileal VFA concentrations were decreased by pectin, while lignocellulose decreased faecal VFA concentrations. In conclusion, ileal bacterial populations and diversity are susceptible to changes in the carbohydrate composition of the diet. However, these changes were not related to major differences in the number of total bacteria in ileal digesta and faeces, but rather to changes in the bacterial species composition and their metabolic activity.     

Bt maize fed-prey mediated effect on fitness and digestive physiology of the ground predator Poecilus cupreus L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

We investigated the effects of a Bt maize hybrid on fitness and digestive physiology of the ground-dwelling predator Poecilus cupreus L., as compared with the near-isogenic hybrid. A tritrophic assay revealed that there was a great decline in the detection of Cry1Ab toxin through the trophic chain, the concentration of the toxin being 945, 349 and 37 ng g⁻¹ of fresh weight in Bt maize leaves, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) larvae and P. cupreus larvae, respectively. Moreover, the toxin was only detected in 8% of the P. cupreus adults collected from fields growing Bt maize. Developmental time of both larvae and pupae of P. cupreus was not adversely affected by the Cry1Ab toxin via fed-prey. To elucidate potential detrimental effects due to a reduction in the quality of the prey, we assessed the digestive proteolytic activities of P. cupreus adults from a laboratory culture and insects collected in commercial Bt and non-Bt maize fields. Field-collected P. cupreus adults had higher proteolytic activities than those reared in the laboratory, whereas no significant differences were found between P. cupreus adults reared on Bt and non-Bt maize fed-S. littoralis or between P. cupreus adults collected in commercial Bt and non-Bt maize fields.     

Two novel defensin-encoding genes of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma brasiliensis (Reduviidae, Triatominae): Gene expression and peptide-structure modeling

Defensins are cysteine-rich peptides involved in the innate immunity of insects and many other organisms. In the present study, two novel defensin-encoding cDNAs and the respective genomic DNAs (def3 and def4) of Triatoma brasiliensis were identified and their tissue-specific and temporal expression was characterized. Both of the deduced mature peptides consisted of 43 amino acid residues and were highly similar to previously identified triatomine defensins (81.4-100%). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR data showed that def3 was constitutively expressed in the fat body and was induced in salivary glands and the small intestine at 5 and 3 days after feeding (daf), respectively. The def4 mRNA level was highly up-regulated in the stomach and fat-body tissues at 5 and 3 daf, respectively. The three-dimensional structures of these defensins were predicted using a homology modeling approach with Def-AAA, the defensin from Anopheles gambiae, as template (62-74% identity). A map of the electrostatic potential of these models revealed that, despite their similar folding patterns, mature Def2 and Def4 have a more cationic structure than is the case for Def1 and Def3. Such differences may orient the antimicrobial profile of these defensins against distinct targets in different organs of the insect.     

不同蛋白含量饲料对南方鲇胃蛋白酶和淀粉酶活性的影响

为探讨营养、饲料与鱼类消化酶之间的相互作用,采用蛋白含量分别为44．8％、29．1％和13．3％的饲料饲养南方鲇(Silurus meridionalis),并在第0d、15d、25d和50d对胰脏、胃黏膜、前肠黏膜和后肠黏膜的胃蛋白酶(酸性蛋白酶)和淀粉酶活性进行了动态分析。结果显示：1)饲料中蛋白含量为29．1％—44．8％时南方鲇的生长速度显快于低蛋白含量饲料(13．3％);2)在实验后期(25d后),中等蛋白含量饲料组南方鲇的生长速度比其他两组快,此阶段该组鱼胃黏膜的胃蛋白酶活性呈上升趋势,而另两组该酶活性则呈下降趋势;低蛋白饲料组前肠黏膜和后肠黏膜的淀粉酶活性在实验后期急剧下降,与该组鱼的生长最慢相关联;3)在实验的50d内,不同蛋白含量饲料对胃蛋白酶和淀粉酶活性在各组织器官中的分布特征影响不大。实验期间,南方鲇消化器官中这两种消化酶活性的变化情况表明,在实验的不同阶段,饲料中的蛋白含量对南方鲇胃蛋白酶和淀粉酶的合成、分泌和活性大小的影响是不同的。     

以儿童呼吸道感染为主的非典型EBV感染报道

目的报道儿童EBV感染所致的临床疾病谱与年龄特点,以进一步提高对EBV感染诊治水平.方法回顾性分析了EBV-VCA-IgM或EBV-DNA-PCR诊断的690例儿童EBV感染的疾病分布和年龄分布特点.结果EBV感染儿童非典型传染性单核细胞增多症患儿422例,占61.16%,非典型EBV感染268例,占38.84%.非典型EBV感染中以呼吸道感染最为多见,为191例,占非典型EBV感染的71.27%.其他为皮炎或口炎、血小板减少性紫癜、腹泻病、川畸病、肠系膜或颈淋巴结炎、肾炎或肾病和CNS感染等.EBV感染致传染性单核细胞增多症和呼吸道感染在各年龄组的分布差异无显著性,EBV感染男女比为1.79：1.结论儿童EBV感染所致疾病多样,累及系统多,非典型表现以呼吸道感染为主.传染性单核细胞增多症和呼吸道感染在各年龄组间差异无显著性.     

Transcription of the human microsomal epoxide hydrolase gene (EPHX1) is regulated by an HNF-4α/CAR/RXR/PSF complex

Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) is a bifunctional protein that plays a central role in the metabolism of numerous xenobiotics as well as mediating the sodium-dependent transport of bile acids into hepatocytes where they are involved in cholesterol excretion and metabolism, lipid digestion and regulating numerous signaling pathways. Previous studies have demonstrated the critical role of GATA-4 and a C/EBPα–NF/Y complex in the regulation of the mEH gene (EPHX1). In this study we show that HNF-4α and CAR/RXR also bind to the proximal promoter region and regulate EPHX1 expression. Bile acids, which inhibit the expression of HNF-4α also decrease the expression of EPHX1. Studies also established that the binding of HNF-4α was essential for the activation of EPHX1 activity by CAR suggesting the formation of a complex between these adjacent factors. The nature of this regulatory complex was further explored using a biotinylated oligonucleotide of this region in conjunction with BioMag beads and mass spectrometric analysis which demonstrated the presence of an additional inhibitory factor (PSF), confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and ChIP analyses, which interacted with DNA-bound CAR/RXR/HNF-4α forming a 4-component regulatory complex.     

泌尿生殖道非淋菌性感染的病原学以及耐药性分析

目的：探究泌尿生殖道非淋茵性感染的病原学以及耐药性,指导临床合理用药。方法：对我院2006年3月．2011年12月确诊的2136例非淋菌性泌尿生殖道感染患者进行标本采集,对病原体及其耐药性进行检测分析。结果：淋茵感染泌尿生殖道病原茵主要为CT及支原体,男性患者CT感染率高于女性患者,女性患者支原体感染率高于男性患者,此外,念珠茵、滴虫及其他难以检出细菌亦属于致病病原茵的一种;在12种抗生素中,多西环素、米诺环素及交沙霉素敏感率较高,均〉80％,罗红霉素、红霉素及环丙沙星敏感度较低,均〈20％。结论：非淋茵感染泌尿生殖道病原菌主要为CT及支原体,男性患者CT感染率高于女性患者,女性患者支原体感染率高于男性患者,病原茵对多西环素、米诺环素及交沙霉素耐药性较低,但不同地域病原茵耐药性亦存在差异,应按照实际情况进行耐药性检测,指导临床合理用药。