Methods of estrus detection and correlates of the reproductive cycle in the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)

The objective was to explore multiple methods for detecting and characterizing the reproductive cycle of the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus). Thirteen H. m. euryspilus females, loaned from the Malaysian government to US zoos, were used. Fecal metabolite concentrations of estrogen and progesterone were compared to vaginal cytology, changes in genital appearance, and behavior (videotapes and zookeeper observations). Cytology and video behavior were characterized during five hormonally defined states: high, low, and baseline progesterone, estrus, and high estrogen. Among states, there were significant differences in cytology and behavior. Sexual, affiliative, and stereotypic behaviors were highest during estrus, whereas affiliative and social behaviors were lowest during high progesterone. In this captive breeding population, 30.8% of females cycled two or three times a year, 30.8% cycled once a year, and 38.5% did not cycle during this study. Inter-estrus intervals were (mean ± SEM) 115.7 ± 6.3 d (range, 101-131). Spearman rank correlations were significant between both ordinal sexual and affiliative behaviors and vulva swelling and color. Sexual behavior was significantly positively correlated with superficial and keratinized cells, but negatively correlated with parabasal and basophilic cells in cycling females (opposite pattern for appetitive behavior). In conclusion, data for cytology, vulva changes and behavior were consistent with, and complementary to, hormonal data; collectively, they delineated estrus and identified specific reproductive types.     

Evaluation of deep subsurface sampling procedures using serendipitous microbial contaminants as tracer organisms

Surface microbiological investigations are critically dependent on the procedures used to collect samples for study. It can be difficult to distinguish between indigenous organisms and those encountered as contaminants during the drilling process. We found that coliform bacteria contaminated drilling mud slurries. These bacteria proved useful as tracer organisms in evaluating the degree of microbial contamination accidentally encountered while drilling for subterranean samples. While these organisms were found in high numbers in both the circulating muds and in the mud reservoir, few subsurface samples harbored conforms. Subsurface slurries did not inhibit the growth of a known coliform inoculum. These results indicate that the methods used to collect and field‐process cores from Atlantic coastal plain sediments were sufficient to prevent a large degree of bacterial contamination in most samples. The microflora in drilling fluids did not quantitatively or qualitatively account for the number and diversity of bacteria in subsurface samples. We conclude that a large and viable bacterial community is present in deep regions of the terrestrial subsurface.     

粪微生态制品保存方法

目的 探索粪微生态制品体外保存方法,为粪微生态制品的保存及运输提供依据。方法 将新鲜粪微生态制品按照加入甘油、蔗糖保护剂的不同以及制备冻干粉的方法分为6组,用10倍稀释法稀释粪菌液,微量点样法将各浓度的粪菌液涂于Wilkins-Chalgren培养基,30℃恒温箱中培养并计数。在保存2周、1个月、2个月、3个月时复苏部分微生态制品,用同样的方法培养并计数。结果 粪微生态制品活菌数随时间递减,在2周内下降速度最快,递减105~107数量级。结论 甘油、蔗糖这两种保护剂以及冻干粉的制备对粪微生态制品的保存差异不大,新鲜粪微生态制品仍为最佳选择。     

野牦牛和家牦牛粪便菌群与短链脂肪酸关系的研究

短链脂肪酸(SCFA)是反刍动物吸收饲草、饲料中营养物质的重要形式。肠道菌群能够降解食物生成SCFA并影响其比例。本文通过16S r DNA测序和气相色谱质谱联用仪,分别测定了野牦牛(Bos mutus)和家牦牛(Bos grunniens)粪便菌群组成及SCFA含量,通过比较分析两种牦牛肠道菌群与SCFA的关系,筛选出野牦牛肠道中与SCFA高浓度有正相关关系的菌群。结果显示,野牦牛粪便菌群主要有厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)(66. 47%)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)(26. 00%)和变形菌门(Proteobacteria)(3. 48%),主要的科有瘤胃球菌科(Ruminococcaceae)(55. 18%)、拟杆菌科(Bacteroidaceae)(8. 75%)和毛螺菌科(Lachnospiraceae)(7. 57%),家牦牛的菌群结构和组成与野牦牛相似。野牦牛粪便中SCFA以乙酸和丙酸为主,乙酸、丙酸、异丁酸、正丁酸和正戊酸的含量均显著高于家牦牛(P <0. 01)。Spearman相关分析显示,野牦牛粪便菌群中紫单胞菌科(Porphyromonadaceae)、拟杆菌科(Bacteroidaceae)、普雷沃氏菌科(Paraprevotellaceae)、理研菌科(Rikenellaceae)和韦荣球菌科(Erysipelotrichaceae)与SCFA具有较强相关性(r> 0. 4),而家牦牛仅有弱相关性(r <0. 3)。说明牦牛后肠道具有丰富的能够促进SCFA生成的益生菌群,进而提高食物的转化效率。     

In vitro activity of potential probiotic Lactobacillus murinus isolated from the dog

Aims:  The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Lactobacillus spp. isolates from faeces of a healthy dog, and to characterize their potential as probiotics in order to evaluate their possible use as probiotics for dogs.
Methods and Results:  An in vitro approach was used to characterize the isolates as potential probiotics including the evaluation of pH and bile salts tolerance, production of antimicrobial substances, biofilm formation on glass and polystyrene surfaces, aggregation ability and adhesion to canine intestinal mucus. The isolates survived to different pH and bile salts conditions, inhibited the in vitro growth of Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens , and adhered to glass and intestinal mucus.
Conclusions:  The properties shown by these isolates may indicate that they could colonize and persist in the gastrointestinal tract and induce beneficial effects to the host.
Significance and Impact of Study:  The evaluation of native canine isolates and future exprimental feeding assays may be useful tools to develop probiotics to improve animal health and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal disorders.     

The art of targeting gut microbiota for tackling human obesity

Recently, a great deal of interest has been expressed regarding strategies to tackle worldwide obesity because of its accelerated wide spread accompanied with numerous negative effects on health and high costs. Obesity has been traditionally associated with an imbalance in energy consumed when compared to energy expenditure. However, growing evidence suggests a less simplistic event in which gut microbiota plays a key role. Obesity, in terms of microbiota, is a complicated disequilibrium that presents many unclear complications. Despite this, there is special interest in characterizing compositionally and functionally the obese gut microbiota with the help of in vitro, animal and human studies. Considering the gut microbiota as a factor contributing to human obesity represents a tool of great therapeutic potential. This paper reviews the use of antimicrobials, probiotics, fecal microbial therapy, prebiotics and diet to manipulate obesity through the human gut microbiota and reveals inconsistencies and implications for future study.     

功能性便秘的微生态学的防治策略

功能性便秘是儿童时期常见的消化系统功能性疾病,其主要特点为经常排便困难和疼痛,可伴有大便失禁和(或)腹痛。其不仅影响患儿的生活质量,还给患儿带来严重的心理及精神负担。其具体发病机制尚不完全清楚,临床常采用综合治疗方法,但一部分患儿治疗效果欠佳。近年来随着对肠道微生态学的研究逐渐增多,了解到肠道菌群失调与便秘的发生有重要关联,人们也在开始尝试将益生菌等微生态制剂应用于功能性便秘患儿,但其治疗效果有待进一步证实。本文主要通过收集有关功能性便秘患儿应用益生菌及益生元等制剂后的效果,分析益生菌等微生态制剂在治疗功能性便秘患儿的效果,以指导未来临床对功能性便秘患儿的治疗。     

Does testosterone mediate the trade-off between nestling begging and growth in the canary (Serinus canaria)?

Nestling birds solicit food from their parents with vigorous begging displays, involving posturing, jostling and calling. In some species, such as canaries, begging is especially costly because it causes a trade off against nestling growth. Fitness costs of begging like this are predicted by evolutionary theory because they function to resolve conflicts of interest within the family over the provision of parental investment. However, the mechanism that links these costs with nestling behaviour remains unclear. In the present study, we determine if the relationships between nestling androgen levels, nestling begging intensities and nestling growth rates are consistent with the hypothesis that testosterone is responsible for the trade-off between begging and growth. We test this idea with a correlational study, using fecal androgens as a non-invasive method for assaying nestling androgen levels. Our results show that fecal androgen levels are positively correlated with nestling begging intensity, and reveal marked family differences in each trait. Furthermore, changes in fecal androgen levels between 5 and 8 days after hatching are positively associated with changes in nestling begging intensity, and negatively associated with nestling growth during this time. Although these correlational results support our predictions, we suggest that that experimental manipulations are now required to test the direct or indirect role of testosterone in mediating the trade-off between begging and growth.     

In-feed administered sub-therapeutic chlortetracycline alters community composition and structure but not the abundance of community resistance determinants in the fecal flora of the rat

The impact of continuous sub-therapeutic chlortetracycline on community structure, composition and abundance of tetracycline resistance genes in the rat fecal community was investigated. Rats were fed a standard diet containing chlortetracycline at 15 μg g⁻¹ diet for 28 days, followed by 30 μg g⁻¹ diet to completion of the study on day-56. These levels are similar to those administered to swine during the grow-out phase. Sub-therapeutic chlortetracycline affected the fecal community as determined through change in the cultivable anaerobic community and through molecular-based analyses including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of the variable 2–3 region community 16S rRNA genes over time and through comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene community libraries. Significant decreases in fecal phylotype diversity occurred in response to sub-therapeutic chlortetracycline, although total bacterial output remained constant over the entire feeding trial. Chlortetracycline at 15 μg g⁻¹ diet resulted in significant change in community composition, but only modest change to the fecal community structure in terms of the distribution of individual phylotypes among the major fecal lineages. Chlortetracycline at 30 μg g⁻¹ diet significantly altered the distribution of phylotypes among the major fecal lineages shifting the overall community such that Gram-negative phylotypes aligning within the phylum Bacteroidetes became the dominant lineage (>60% of total community). While chlortetracycline impacted both fecal community structure and composition, there was no significant effect on the abundance of community tetracycline resistance genes [tet(Q), tet(W), tet(O)] or on the emergence of a new putative tetracycline resistance gene identified within the fecal community. While sub-therapeutic chlortetracycline provides sufficient selective pressure to significantly alter the fecal community, the primary outcome appears to be the development of a community which may have a higher inherent tolerance to sub-therapeutic levels of chlortetracycline rather than an overgrowth of the tetracycline resistant bacteria already present within the community.