Food profile of Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea during an annual cycle in the Algerian Babors Mountains of North Africa

This study showed from the analysis of 180 droppings of the Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea harvested during a period of one year from the Babors Mountains (Bejaia, Algeria) that insects formed the main part of the diet (85.9% of identified items). The other food categories included arachnids, crustaceans and gastropods. Among the insects, Coleoptera (beetles) was the main order consisting of 37.4% of identified items. The most frequently recorded family was Baetidae (Ephemeroptera; 9.8%). At the prey-taxa level, an unidentified Baetidae was the most frequently encountered and represented 9.7% of the diet. This species was present in the diet throughout the year. Prey taxa classified as aquatic were more frequently encountered (54.2%) compared with those considered terrestrial. This study showed that seasonal fluctuations in the diet of Grey Wagtail were very weak. Prey size ranged from 0.2 to 30.5 mm, with an average of 8.9 mm. Overall, this study showed that Grey wagtail fed on species of a wide variety of taxa, with little variation across the year.     

Variation of phenolic composition and biological activities in Limoniastrum monopetalum L. organs

Changes in phenolic composition and biological activities were investigated in different Limoniastrum monopetalum L. organs. For that, 80% aqueous acetone extracts were used to estimate total phenolic contents and their antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH· and O₂^·− radical scavenging activities and reducing power. The efficiency of organ extracts was tested against human pathogen strains. Ultimately, acid hydrolysis of all organs was subjected to RP-HPLC for phenolic identification. Results showed that flower extracts exhibited the highest polyphenol (65.42 GAE/g DW) and flavonoid (35.36 CE/g DW) contents. Stems were enriched in condensed tannin content (21.4 mg CE/g DW) and displayed the best antiradical activities and the highest reducing power. Besides, stem and gall extracts showed the highest efficiency against pathogenic bacteria as compared with those of flower. Concerning the antifungal test, a slight activity was found in gall extracts. The RP-HPLC showed a difference in phenolic compounds that varied as function of organ. In fact, the major phenolic compound varied as function of organ. Results suggest that L. monopetalum could be a promising source of biomolecules for therapeutic and nutraceutical industries and the difference between organs may be related to their physiological role.     

Stability and Inhibitory Activity of Pediocin PA-1 Against Listeria sp. in Simulated Physiological Conditions of the Human Terminal Ileum

Listeria monocytogenes is responsible for severe foodborne infections, which can be life-threatening especially for infants and elderly populations. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has stimulated the search for new strategies, such as the use of bacteriocins, to prevent or cure foodborne infectious diseases in the intestine. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the bacteriocin pediocin PA-1 from Pediococcus acidilactici UL5 to inhibit Listeria ivanovii, used as a surrogate for L. monocytogenes, under physiological conditions of the terminal ileum, simulated in a continuous in vitro fermentation model. A fecal sample from a healthy adult was immobilized and propagated for 30?days in a continuous stirred tank reactor, fed with a nutritive medium simulating the ileal chime (pH 7.5). After reaching a pseudo-steady state, the reactor was inoculated five times with L. ivanovii to reach a final concentration of 10⁷ CFU/ml within the reactor. Two spikes of L. ivanovii without adjunction of pediocin PA-1 served as control assays, and three other spikes were done to test the effects of three concentrations of pediocin PA-1 corresponding to 2, 3, and 5× the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) active against L. ivanovii. The concentration of L. ivanovii in the reactor was followed for 8?h using the PALCAM selective medium. The different groups of commensal bacteria were enumerated on selective medium or using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Our data showed that pediocin PA-1 is stable in the ileum conditions and that it is able to exert its inhibition activity against L. ivanovii in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of pediocin PA-1 at 5?×?MIC induced a complete disappearance of L. ivanovii (5 log reduction) within 5?h, compared to a reduction of 2 logs, corresponding to the washout phenomenon, when no pediocin PA-1 was added. Reduction of 0.8 and 1.3 logs within 8?h was also obtained with the addition of 2 and 3?×?MIC, respectively. The same experiment has shown that addition of pediocin-PA1 in the reactor had a negligible effect on the balance of commensal bacteria.     

Effect of Antimicrobial Peptides Divergicin M35 and Nisin A on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Listeria monocytogenes</Emphasis> LSD530 Potassium Channels

The aim of this work was to study the effect of antimicrobial peptides: divergicin M35 and nisin A on Listeria monocytogenes LSD 530 potassium (K⁺) channels: ATP-sensitive (K_ATP), calcium-activated (BK_Ca), and depolarization-activated (K_v) types. Increase on K⁺ efflux and inhibition of cellular growth were observed after adding K⁺ channel activators pinacidil, NS1619, and cromakalim to divergicin M35. Increase in K⁺ efflux from log-phase cells was about 18 ± 1.1, 11 ± 0.63, and nmol mg⁻¹ of cell dry weight (CDW) for pinacidil and NS1619, respectively, over the efflux obtained with divergicin M35 alone. Increases in K⁺ efflux obtained by adding the same K⁺ channel activators to nisin A fit a completely different profile. Divergicin M35 activates K⁺ channels, particularly of the K_v and BK_Ca types and to a lesser extent the K_ATP type, causing K⁺ efflux and consequently cell death.     

Effects of low doses of Li carbonate injected into mice. Functional changes in kidney seem to be related to the oxidative status

Effects of daily injections of lithium carbonate (20, 40 or 80 mg/kg body weight) during 14 and 28 days were investigated in Wistar mice. Attention was paid (1) to changes in concentrations of lithium, creatinine and urea in serum, (2) to level of oxidative stress by measuring lipids peroxidation level and catalase, superoxide-dismutase and glutathione-peroxidase activities, and (3) to changes in the histological structure of brain. The first intraperitoneal injection was followed by a transitory peak of lithium in the blood, reaching 0.25 mM and 1.1 mM and disappearing 6 and 12 h later for the 20 and 80 mg/kg doses, respectively. From the first to the last day of treatment, lithium concentrations in the blood, measured 12 h after the injections, increased from 0 to 0.11 mM (20 mg/kg dose) or 0.25 mM (80 mg/kg dose). The 80 mg/kg treatment induced a renal insufficiency evidenced by an increase of blood creatinine and urea levels. Lithium treatment was found to trigger an oxidative stress in kidney, but not in brain. In kidney, the lipid peroxidation level (TBARS) and the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were increased. No change in glutathione peroxidase activity was detected. Histology of the brain cortex revealed interesting modifications: thicker neuronal cells and a denser network of dendrites, as compared to controls.     

Phenolic composition of Cynara cardunculus L. organs, and their biological activities

Polyphenols are bioactive molecules exhibiting a lot of scientific attention due to their multiple biological activities. This study compared phenolic contents and antioxidant activity in Cynara cardunculus L. organs and focus on leaf phenolic compounds identification by RP-HPLC and their antibacterial activity. The analyzed organs exhibited different total polyphenol contents (7-14.8 mg GAE g(-1) DW). Leaf and seed phenolic contents were similar and two times higher than those in flowers. The same tendency was observed for the amount of flavonoids and tannins. However, seed extracts displayed the highest DPPH. scavenging ability with the lowest IC50 value (23 microg ml(-1)), followed by leaves and flowers (over 50 microg ml(-1)). In contrast, leaves showed the highest capacity to quench superoxide (IC50: 1 microg ml(-1)) as compared to seeds (6 microg ml(-1)). In addition, cardoon leaves were efficient to inhibit growth of pathogenic bacteria mainly against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The identification of phenolic compounds from leaves revealed that syringic and trans-cinnamic acids were the major molecules.     

Phenolic composition and biological activities of Tunisian Nigella sativa L. shoots and roots

In the present investigation, methanolic extracts from shoots and roots of Tunisian Nigella sativa were assayed for their antioxidant and antimutagenic activities. The phenolic composition of the methanolic extracts was determined by RP-HPLC. The predominant phenolic compound was vanillic acid with a mean concentration of 143.21 and 89.94 mg per 100 g dry weight of shoots and roots, respectively. Shoots and roots showed comparable and strong superoxide scavenger activity; however, shoots exhibited higher DPPH radical scavenging, reducing and chelating activities than roots. Mutagenic and antimutagenic activities were determined by using the Ames test. Shoots and roots demonstrated important antimutagenic effects. Roots exhibited stronger activity than shoots with an inhibition percentage of 71.32%.     

A potential oral microbiome signature associated with coronary artery disease in Tunisia

The coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving genetic as well as environmental factors. Recent evidence suggests that the oral microbiome has a significant role in triggering atherosclerosis. The present study assessed the oral microbiome composition variation between coronary patients and healthy subjects in order to identify a potential pathogenic signature associated with CAD. We performed metagenomic profiling of salivary microbiomes by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) next-generation sequencing. Oral microbiota profiling was performed for 30 individuals including 20 patients with CAD and ten healthy individuals without carotid plaques or previous stroke or myocardial infarction.We found that oral microbial communities in patients and healthy controls are represented by similar global core oral microbiome. The predominant taxa belonged to Firmicutes (genus Streptococcus, Veillonella, Granulicatella, Selenomonas), Proteobacteria (genus Neisseria, Haemophilus), Actinobacteria (genus Rothia), Bacteroidetes (genus Prevotella, Porphyromonas), and Fusobacteria (genus Fusobacterium, Leptotrichia). More than 60% relative abundance of each sample for both CAD patients and controls is represented by three major genera including Streptococcus (24.97 and 26.33%), Veillonella (21.43 and 19.91%), and Neisseria (14.23 and 15.33%).Using penalized regression analysis, the bacterial genus Eikenella was involved as the major discriminant genus for both status and Syntax score of CAD. We also reported a significant negative correlation between Syntax score and Eikenella abundance in coronary patients’ group (Spearman rho = −0.68, P=0.00094).In conclusion, the abundance of Eikenella in oral coronary patient samples compared with controls could be a prominent pathological indicator for the development of CAD.     

National mapping of schistosomiasis,soil-transmitted helminthiasis and anaemia in Yemen: Towards better national control and elimination

BackgroundSchistosomiasis (SCH) and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are known to be endemic in Yemen. However, the distribution of both diseases had not previously been assessed by a well-structured national mapping study covering all governorates. The main aim of this study was, therefore, to map the prevalence of SCH and STH in Yemen in order to better inform implementation of effective national control and elimination interventions. The assessment of the distribution of anaemia was also included as a well-known consequence of infection with both SCH and STH. Secondarily, the study aimed to provide a broad indication of the impact of large-scale treatment on the distribution of infection.Methodology and principal findingsTo achive these aims, 80,432 children (10–14 years old) from 2,664 schools in 332 of Yemen’s 333 districts were included, in 2014, into this national cross-sectional survey. Countrywide, 63.3% (210/332) and 75.6% (251/332) of districts were found to be endemic for SCH and STH respectively. More districts were affected by intestinal than urogenital SCH (54.2% and 31.6% respectively). SCH infection was mostly mild and moderate, with no districts reporting high infection. One quarter (24.4%) of Yemeni districts had high or moderate levels of Ascaris lumbricoides infection. Infection with Trichuris trichiura was the second most common STH (44.9% of districts infected) after A. lumbricoides (68.1%). Hookworm was the least prevalent STH (9.0%).Anaemia was prevalent in 96.4% of districts; it represented a severe public health problem (prevalence ≥ 40%) in 26.5% of districts, and a mild to moderate problem in two thirds of the districts (33.7% and 36.1% respectively).ConclusionThis study provided the first comprehensive mapping of SCH, STH, and anaemia across the country. This formed the basis for evaluating and continuing the national control and elimination programme for these neglected tropical diseases in Yemen.     

Changeability in Retama raetam essential oils chemical composition,antioxidant and antimicrobial properties as affected by the physiological stage

Abstract

Retama raetam essential oils (EOs) composition and biological activities were assessed during three developmental periods. The essential oil yield varied significantly among the developmental stages and the optimal was detected at the fresh fruiting stage (0.34%). In addition, EOs composition varied significantly (p < 0.05) according to the different developmental stages. In fact, 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol, linalool, and 1-octen-3-ol were the main compounds in the vegetative, flowering, and the fresh fruiting stages, respectively. Developmental stage had also a strong effect on EOs antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. In fact, during the fresh fruiting stage, IC₅₀ and EC₅₀ values of the antioxidant assays were 2 to 3 times inferior to all others stages. Concerning the determination of the diameter of inhibition, a slight to high antimicrobial activity was revealed against 12 bacteria and 4 yeasts. Once again, EOs from the fresh fruiting stage had higher bactericidal effect than those from the flowering and vegetative ones (IZ varied from 10 to 13 mm). The results of this investigation showed for the first time the high accumulation of EOs at the early stages of fruit development making the fresh fruiting optimal stage for the extraction of powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial EOs.