Biofilm formation as an extra gear for Apilactobacillus kunkeei to counter the threat of agrochemicals in honeybee crop

The alteration of a eubiosis status in honeybees’ gut microbiota is directly linked to the occurrence of diseases, and likely to the honeybees decline. Since fructophilic lactobacilli were suggested as symbionts for honeybees, we mechanistically investigated their behaviour under the exposure to agrochemicals (Roundup, Mediator and Reldan containing glyphosate, imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos-methyl as active ingredients respectively) and plant secondary metabolites (nicotine and p-coumaric acid) ingested by honeybees as part of their diet. The effects of exposure to agrochemicals and plant secondary metabolites were assessed both on planktonic cells and sessile communities of three biofilm-forming strains of Apilactobacillus kunkeei. We identified the high sensitivity of A. kunkeei planktonic cells to Roundup and Reldan, while cells embedded in mature biofilms had increased resistance to the same agrochemicals. However, agrochemicals still exerted a substantial inhibitory/control effect if the exposure was during the preliminary steps of biofilm formation. The level of susceptibility resulted to be strain-specific. Exopolysaccharides resulted in the main component of extracellular polymeric matrix (ECM) in biofilm, but the exposure to Roundup caused a change in ECM production and composition. Nicotine and p-coumaric acid had a growth-promoting effect in sessile communities, although no effect was found on planktonic growth.     

Stereoselective reduction of ketones by plant cell cultures

Eighteen species of plant cell could reduce of 2-pentanone, acetophenone and ethyl acetoacetate to the S-alcohols with yields ranging from 20 to 100 % (w/w) and optical purity ranging from 65 to 99 % enantiomeric excess (e.e.). © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Effects of dietary plant polyphenols and seaweed extract mixture on male-rabbit semen: Quality traits and antioxidant markers

Feed additive consisting of polysaccharides from brown seaweeds plus phenolic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids, tannins, and flavonoids from plant extracts, was used as rabbit food supplement. Main aim of the study was to determine the effect of natural mix of marine and freshwater seaweed polyphenols on selected reproductive characteristics of male rabbits during the 90-days experiment. Natural mix was incorporated in feed-pellets for rabbits in two different concentrations – 0.3% (T1 group) and 0.6% (T2 group), compared with a control group (C group). In experimental groups a significant increase of concentration of calcium during first 30 days of supplementation was found. An increase of alanine aminotransferase, glutathione peroxidase and ferric reducing ability of plasma and a decrease in aspartate aminotransferase after 90 days were recorded in the same groups. Except for that we noticed decrease of semen distance of curved line and velocity of curved line after 30 days though only while being supplemented with 0.6% proportion of seaweed polyphenols in feed mixture. Based on the results it can be stated that the natural mix in the tested levels do not show adverse effect on male rabbit reproductive parameters, and an improvement of antioxidant status was observed. The feed additives can have a very important effect on growth, health and development of animals in general as it supplies the with the much-needed minerals, nutritional substances and antioxidants, on which we focused in our study.     

Causal Relationship between Microbial Ecology Dynamics and Proteolysis during Manufacture and Ripening of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Cheese Canestrato Pugliese

Pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, community-level physiological profiles determined by the use of Biolog EcoPlates, and proteolysis analyses were used to characterize Canestrato Pugliese Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheese. The number of presumptive mesophilic lactococci in raw ewes'' milk was higher than that of presumptive mesophilic lactobacilli. The numbers of these microbial groups increased during ripening, showing temporal and numerical differences. Urea-PAGE showed limited primary proteolysis, whereas the analysis of the pH 4.6-soluble fraction of the cheese revealed that secondary proteolysis increased mainly from 45 to 75 days of ripening. This agreed with the concentration of free amino acids. Raw ewes'' milk was contaminated by several bacterial phyla: Proteobacteria (68%; mainly Pseudomonas), Firmicutes (30%; mainly Carnobacterium and Lactococcus), Bacteroidetes (0.05%), and Actinobacteria (0.02%). Almost the same microbial composition persisted in the curd after molding. From day 1 of ripening onwards, the phylum Firmicutes dominated. Lactococcus dominated throughout ripening, and most of the Lactobacillus species appeared only at 7 or 15 days. At 90 days, Lactococcus (87.2%), Lactobacillus (4.8%; mainly Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus sakei), and Leuconostoc (3.9%) dominated. The relative utilization of carbon sources by the bacterial community reflected the succession. This study identified strategic phases that characterized the manufacture and ripening of Canestrato Pugliese cheese and established a causal relationship between mesophilic lactobacilli and proteolysis.     

Microalgae triacylglycerols content by FT-IR spectroscopy

The present study aims to develop a methodology via Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for the semiquantitative determination of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in microalgal consortia, consistent with the use of the technique as process control. FT-IR spectroscopy has proved to be a powerful analytical tool for the identification of macromolecular pools (e.g., proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) and in monitoring biochemical changes (including lipids) in response to nutrient stress or environmental modifications. In the Oocystis-based consortium under examination, the synthesis of neutral lipid in the form of TAGs can be induced, applying stress condition, and these lipids are suitable as biodiesel precursors. In the exponential growing phase, the consortium shows a low TAGs content, in the order of 5 %w, that can be increased till around 22 %w on ash free dry matter, after nitrogen starvation.     

Renal infarction due to polyarteritis nodosa in a patient with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: a case report and a brief review of the literature

ABSTRACT: Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is one of the most common subtypes of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (15-20% of all cases), accounting for approximately 1-2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. It often presents autoimmune phenomena including hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, glomerulonephrities and circulating immune complexes (CIC). Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is an autoimmune disease characterized by necrotizing vasculitis of medium vessels, which rarely develops in association with hematological malignant disorders. Herein we report the case of a male patient with AITL who had a renal infarction secondary to PAN, mimicking a neoplastic lesion. A 40-year-old man underwent lymph node biopsy in the suspicious of sarcoidosis. On the basis of histological and immunohistochemical findings, a diagnosis of AITL was performed. The patient was successfully treated with a cytarabine-based regimen for 6 cycles. Three months after the initial diagnosis of AITL, a whole body CT-scan showed a lesion in the lower pole of the left kidney. A renal cell carcinoma was suspected, thus a nephrectomy was carried out. The histological findings were compatible with polyarteritis nodosa. To the best of our knowledge, the association between PAN and AITL has been described only once. This relation may be secondary to the induction of an autoimmune phenomenon by the lymphoma with the formation of circulating immune complexes, leading to vessel walls injury. A careful evaluation is needed in the management of AITL patients with signs of renal failure in order to avoid delay of treatment and organ damage. Key words: renal infarction, polyarteritis nodosa, T-cell lymphoma.     

Ethical Implications in Vaccine Pharmacotherapy for Treatment and Prevention of Drug of Abuse Dependence

Different immunotherapeutic approaches are in the pipeline for the treatment of drug dependence. “Drug vaccines” aim to induce the immune system to produce antibodies that bind to drugs and prevent them from inducing rewarding effects in the brain. Drugs of abuse currently being tested using these new approaches are opioids, nicotine, cocaine, and methamphetamine. In human clinical trials, “cocaine and nicotine vaccines” have been shown to induce sufficient antibody levels while producing few side effects. Studies in humans, determining how these vaccines interact in combination with their target drug, are underway. However, although vaccines can become a reasonable treatment option for drugs of abuse, there are several disadvantages that must be considered. These include i) great individual variability in the formation of antibodies, ii) the lack of protection against a structurally dissimilar drug that produces the same effects as the drug of choice, and iii) the lack of an effect on the drug desire that may predispose an addict to relapse. In addition, a comprehensive overview of several crucial ethical issues has not yet been widely discussed in order to have not only a biological approach to immunotherapy of addiction. Overall, immunotherapy offers a range of possible treatment options: the pharmacological treatment of addiction, the treatment of overdoses, the prevention of toxicity to the brain or the heart, and the protection of the fetus during pregnancy. So far, the results obtained from a small-scale experiment using vaccines against cocaine and nicotine suggest that a number of important technical challenges still need to be overcome before such vaccines can be approved for clinical use.     

Changes in ethanol, lactate and malate content in Acer pseudoplatanus cells: effects of fusicoccin and O2 availability

Changes in the contents of ethanol, lactate and malate were determined at different activities of the plasma membrane H⁺ pump [in the presence and absence of fusicoccin (FC)] and at different O₂ availability in cultured cells of Acer pseudoplatanus L. FC induced acidification of the medium under all tested conditions of O₂ availability. At low O₂ concentrations both ethanolic and lactic fermentations occurred, and FC markedly stimulated lactate production but had no effect on ethanol production. There was also a small, stimulating effect of FC on malate production. At high O₂ concentrations no ethanol production was observed and lactate production was reduced. Under these conditions the stimulating effect of FC on lactate production decreased, while that on malate production increased. FC-induced synthesis of lactate and malate is interpreted as depending on the activation of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) (alkaline pH optima), respectively, due to the alkalinization of the cytoplasmic pH resulting from the stimulation of the H⁺ pump by FC. These results suggest that the balance between the two pH stat systems depends on the availability of O₂.