Innate immunity and metabolomic responses in dairy cows challenged intramammarily with lipopolysaccharide after subacute ruminal acidosis

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a prevalent metabolic disorder in dairy cows known to elicit local and systemic immune responses. We recently showed that cows experiencing SARA and challenged intramammarily with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) experienced stronger metabolic disturbances compared with cows without SARA. Therefore, we hypothesized that cows experiencing SARA have a modulated innate immune response and impaired plasma metabolome compared with healthy cows when experiencing an acute mastitis challenge. A total of 18 Simmental cows were subjected either to a Control (CON, n=6) or SARA (n=12) feeding regimen, receiving either 40% or 60% concentrates for 30 days. Thereafter, six SARA (SARA-LPS) and the CON (CON-LPS) cows were intramammarily challenged with 50 µg LPS from Escherichia coli (O26 : B6), while the remaining six SARA cows (SARA-PLA) received a placebo. Blood and milk samples were analyzed for acute phase proteins and a targeted ESI-LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics approach was performed in blood samples 24 h after the LPS challenge. The LPS infusion caused a strong increase in immune response variables, with a higher concentration of milk amyloid A 48 h after the LPS challenge in SARA-LPS compared with CON-LPS cows. Cows receiving the LPS infusion had a lower plasma concentration of several amino acids and lysophosphatidylcholines but without differences in SARA cows and healthy cows. In conclusion, our results revealed that an intramammary LPS infusion increased acute phase proteins and modulated the blood metabolome. While no systemic differences between SARA and healthy cows were observed, cows experiencing SARA showed a higher concentration of an acute phase protein at the local level of the mammary gland. Further research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and to evaluate its clinical significance for udder health.     

微生物发酵炮制何首乌机理的初步研究

为探讨微生物发酵炮制何首乌的机制,采用HPLC考察何首乌微生物发酵前后二苯乙烯苷类和蒽醌类化学成分的变化。何首乌经米根霉发酵后,产生了新的蒽醌类成分大黄素-6-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷,而二苯乙烯苷类成分无变化。同时药理研究发现,大黄素-6-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷对家兔肠平滑肌的收缩作用弱于大黄素。由此推断,在何首乌发酵炮制过程中,米根霉可催化大黄素转化为大黄素-6-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷,从而降低何首乌的泻下作用。实验结果初步验证了微生物发酵炮制何首乌的科学性。     

蛋白质组学技术在工业发酵梭菌研究中的应用

介绍了目前应用较广泛的蛋白质组学技术的原理、应用及优缺点;总结了发酵工业中常用的梭菌属细菌;重点阐述了蛋白质组学技术在工业发酵梭状芽孢杆菌研究中的应用,为工业发酵菌种的改良和发酵工艺的优化提供理论依据。最后讨论了今后工业发酵菌种蛋白质组学研究的重点和方向。     

Characterization of Acetylcholine-induced Increases in Cytosolic Free Calcium Concentration in Individual Rat Pancreatic β-cells

The intracellular free Ca²⁺ ion concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) was measured using fura-2 microspec-trofluorimetry in individual rat pancreatic β-cells prepared by enzymatic digestion and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The mean basal concentration of [Ca²⁺]i in β-cells in the presence of 4.4 mM glucose and 1.8 mM Ca²⁺ was 112±1.6 nM (n=207). The action of acetylcholine (ACh) was concentration-dependent, and raising the concentration resulted in [Ca²⁺]i spikes of increasing amplitude and duration in some, but not all of the β-cells. In addition, the β-cells demonstrated variable sensitivity to ACh. The increases in [Ca²⁺]i were rapid, transient and were blocked by atropine at 10^-6M. A brief exposure to 50 mM K⁺ resulted in a transient increase in [Ca²⁺]i similar to that induced by ACh, but resistant to atropine. A high concentration of ACh (100μL 10^-4M or 10^-3M) induced [Ca²⁺]i oscillations in 11 out of 57 β-cells in the presence of 4.4 mM glucose. Using calcium channel blockers and Ca²⁺ free medium, the source of the increase in [Ca²⁺]i was deduced to be from extracellular spaces. Changing the temperature from 22 to 37°C did not affect the action of ACh on [Ca²⁺]i. These data strongly suggest that ACh exerted a direct action on [Ca²⁺]i in normal rat pancreatic β-cells and support a role for Ca²⁺ as a second messenger in the action of ACh.     

Enhanced phenylpyruvic acid production with Proteus vulgaris in fed-batch and continuous fermentation

Phenylpyruvic acid is a deaminated form of phenylalanine and is used in various areas such as development of cheese and wine flavors, diagnosis of phenylketonuria, and to decrease excessive nitrogen accumulation in the manure of farm animals. However, reported phenylpyruvic acid fermentation studies in the literature have been usually performed at shake-flask scale with low production. In this study, phenylpyruvic acid production was evaluated in bench-top bioreactors by conducting fed-batch and continuous fermentation for the first time. As a result, maximum phenylpyruvic acid concentrations increased from 1350 mg/L (batch fermentation) to 2958 mg/L utilizing fed-batch fermentation. Furthermore, phenylpyruvic acid productivity was increased from 48 mg/L/hr (batch fermentation) to 104 and 259 mg/L/hr by conducting fed-batch and continuous fermentation, respectively. Overall, this study demonstrated that fed-batch and continuous fermentation significantly improved phenylpyruvic acid production in bench-scale bioreactor production.     

冬虫夏草菌液体培养补料对菌丝体和腺苷产量的影响

为提高冬虫夏草菌菌丝体及腺苷产量,探索了液体培养中进行营养物质补料的方法。通过在培养10d时进行碳、氮源联合补料,将浓度分别补充至47g/L和0.76g/L,则冬虫夏草菌丝体干重和腺苷产量分别达到27.94g/L和1.15mg/g（20d培养周期）,为对照组的2.43倍和19.2倍。这项研究对冬虫夏草菌的大规模工业应用有参考意义。     

Repeated Batch Production of Theanine by Coupled Fermentation with Energy Transfer Using Membrane-Enclosed γ-Glutamylmethylamide Synthetase and Dried Yeast Cells

γ-Glutamylmethylamide synthetase and dried baker’s yeast cells were enclosed together in a dialysis membrane tube to produce theanine repeatedly by coupled fermentation with energy transfer. The membrane-enclosed enzyme preparation (M-EEP) formed approximately 600 mM theanine from glutamic acid and ethylamine at a 100% conversion rate. M-EEP maintained its productivity of theanine during six consecutive reactions in a mixture containing NAD⁺.     

Bio-processing of agro-byproducts to animal feed

Agricultural and food-industry residues constitute a major proportion (almost 30%) of worldwide agricultural production. These wastes mainly comprise lignocellulosic materials, fruit and vegetable wastes, sugar-industry wastes as well as animal and fisheries refuse and byproducts. Agro-residues are rich in many bioactive and nutraceutical compounds, such as polyphenolics, carotenoids and dietary fiber among others. Agro residues are a major valuable biomass and present potential solutions to problems of animal nutrition and the worldwide supply of protein and calories, if appropriate technologies can be used for their valorization by nutrient enrichment. Technologies available for protein enrichment of these wastes include solid substrate fermentation, ensiling, and high solid or slurry processes. Technologies to be developed for the reprocessing of these wastes need to take account of the peculiarities of individual wastes and the environment in which they are generated, reprocessed, and used. In particular, such technologies need to deliver products that are safe, not just for animal feed use, but also from the perspective of human feeding. This review focuses on the major current applications of solid-state fermentation in relation to the feed sector.     

黑曲霉SL2-111复合酶固体发酵工艺研究

以酸性蛋白酶酶活为响应值,采用单因素搜索和正交试验对黑曲霉（Aspergillus niger）SL2－111固体发酵工艺进行优化,结果表明最适培养基的组成为：新鲜麸皮8．25g,米糠4．5g、豆饼粉1．5g、（NH4)2SO40.3g、K2HPO40．66g、CaCl20.075g、水8．6mL,pH5．5,变温培养,前30h28℃、后30h为23℃,培养时间为60h。采用最适培养基和优化工艺,在250mL三角瓶中进行验证实验,酸性蛋白酶酶活可达12586U/g,果胶酶和纤维素酶分别为16490U/g、9822U／g。     

The occurrence of the second moult of Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum

Maung M. 1978. The occurrence of the second moult of Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum. International Journal for Parasitology 8: 371–378. Eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum were cultured at 28°C and observed daily. Larvae were released by pressure, by artificial hatching with CO₂, and by natural hatching after infection of laboratory mice. The early stages of development in the egg were observed to comprise two moults, one occurring immediately after the other. Both moults were initiated within the egg, but the time of completion of the second moult varied considerably, and in some instances was not completed until the larvae reached the liver of experimentally infected animals.