The methanolic extract of Garcinia atroviridis (MeGa) reduces body weight and food intake,and improves lipid profiles by altering the lipid metabolism: a rat model

Garcinia species are widely used for their slimming effects via increased fat burning and suppression of satiety. However, scientific evidence for the biological effects of Garcinia atroviridis (GA) is lacking. We investigated the phytochemical composition, safety profiles, and antioxidant and antiobesity effects of methanolic extracts of Garcinia atroviridis (MeGa) in obese female rats. Repeated dose toxicity studies were conducted according to the OECD guidelines. Upon sacrifice, haematological, biochemical, lipid profile, and serum-based metabolomics analyses were performed to evaluate metabolic expression changes and their related pathways. MeGa contains several phytochemical groups and GA fruit acids. MeGa was found to be nontoxic in both male and female rats with an oral lethal dose (LD50) of 2000 mg/kg. After 9 weeks of treatment, MeGa-treated obese rats had lower weight gain and better lipid profiles (cholesterol and triglyceride), which correlated with the altered metabolic pathways involved in the metabolism of lipid (glycerophospholipid) and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid. In addition, MeGa caused differential metabolism pathways of arachidonic acid and tryptophan that affect the inflammatory response and suppression of appetite. We concluded that MeGa is safe, and its slimming effects are due to the differential metabolism of lipids.     

Cultivation of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in a norepinephrine-containing medium alters in vivo tissue prevalence in swine

Transporting swine to slaughter is often linked with an increase in shedding of Salmonella, but little information exists to explain the role of stress. Recent research has suggested the catecholamine norepinephrine (NE) as a potential host signal during stress. The current study sought to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in fecal samples and various tissues following inoculation with S. Typhimurium exposed to NE in vitro. The samples were collected at 3 and 24 h post-inoculation (p.i.) from pigs inoculated with S. Typhimurium cultured in either Luria–Bertani medium (LBC) or NE-infused, SAPI minimal medium (NEC). Bacterial quantification of tissue and fecal samples revealed a difference in the concentration of Salmonella between the two infections for six tissues at the two time points, five of which were greater in the NEC animals (p<0.05). Upon observing an increase in the number of Salmonella associated with the stomach wall tissues at 3 h p.i. for the NEC culture, an experiment was conducted using an ex vivo swine contents assay to determine the effect of NE exposure on the ability of the organism to survive the conditions of the porcine stomach; NE treatment enhanced the survival of S. Typhimurium more than 2 logs (p<0.007). Our results demonstrate an increase in the number of Salmonella associated with various swine tissues following experimental inoculation with NE-treated S. Typhimurium; thus, a possible scenario could be envisioned with a Salmonella-infected pig being stressed during transportation/mixing, resulting in the shedding of NE-stimulated Salmonella and exposure of naïve, stress-compromised penmates with a “primed” microorganism.     

Photonic plasmid stability of transformed Salmonella Typhimurium: A comparison of three unique plasmids

Background  

Acquiring a highly stable photonic plasmid in transformed Salmonella Typhimurium for use in biophotonic studies of bacterial tracking in vivo is critical to experimental paradigm development. The objective of this study was to determine stability of transformed Salmonella Typhimurium (S. typh-lux) using three different plasmids and characterize their respective photonic properties.     

Uneven distribution of arboviruses transmitted by ticks in sea bird colonies north and south of France

During an extensive virological survey (1977-1986), 187 strains of five different arboviruses were isolated from 7,117 ticks parasitising seabirds in Brittany and Normandy, whereas only one viral strain was obtained from 1,414 ticks collected from the Southern coasts of France and Corsica. Among the many ecological factors involved in virus circulation in the two areas, the unequal sizes of the seabird colonies may probably explain the unbalanced distribution of viruses.     

Household environmental microbiota influences early-life eczema development

Exposure to a diverse microbial environment during pregnancy and early postnatal period is important in determining predisposition towards allergy. However, the effect of environmental microbiota exposure during preconception, pregnancy and postnatal life on development of allergy in the child has not been investigated so far. In the S-PRESTO (Singapore PREconception Study of long Term maternal and child Outcomes) cohort, we collected house dust during all three critical window periods and analysed microbial composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. At 6 and 18 months, the child was assessed for eczema by clinicians. In the eczema group, household environmental microbiota was characterized by presence of human-associated bacteria Actinomyces, Anaerococcus, Finegoldia, Micrococcus, Prevotella and Propionibacterium at all time points, suggesting their possible contributions to regulating host immunity and increasing the susceptibility to eczema. In the home environment of the control group, putative protective effect of an environmental microbe Planomicrobium (Planococcaceae family) was observed to be significantly higher than that in the eczema group. Network correlation analysis demonstrated inverse relationships between beneficial Planomicrobium and human-associated bacteria (Actinomyces, Anaerococcus, Finegoldia, Micrococcus, Prevotella and Propionibacterium). Exposure to natural environmental microbiota may be beneficial to modulate shed human-associated microbiota in an indoor environment.     

Castration induced pain in pigs and other livestock

Castration of male livestock being reared for meat has long been practiced, to prevent unwanted breeding, make management and handling easier, and to improve meat quality. However, castration is a painful procedure for the animal and has increasingly come under scrutiny from animal welfare lobbyists. Depending on the species, a number of different methods are available which include surgical removal of the testes following scrotal incision, crushing of the blood and nerve supply using clamps, rubber rings or latex bands, the destruction of testicular tissue using chemicals or vaccination against hormones such as GnRH and LH that control testicular function (immuno-castration). The degree of pain experienced by the animal may depend on the method used and the age at which the procedure is carried out. This is characterized by an activation of the HPA axis, resulting in a large cortisol response, and obvious display of pain-related behaviours including abnormal posture, increased inactivity, and attention directed towards the site of injury. Use of anaesthetics and analgesics impact the degree of pain experienced. As alternatives, such as immuno-castration or the rearing of intact males become more prevalent, the needs for castration will diminish. However, in the meantime, castration will continue to be seen by many producers as a “routine” procedure, subject to varying degrees of recommendation of best practice or legislation depending on country, and subject to attention from animal welfare groups and policy-makers. Further science is needed to best inform all stakeholders as to the longer-term implications of castration methods on pain and welfare of individuals.     

Ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030: Time to reset targets for 2025

Paul De Lay and co-authors introduce a Collection on the design of targets for ending the AIDS epidemic.