Search Results (998)

The tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon is a commercially important species; however, the intensification of the farming of this species has led to the production and release of significant amounts of organic waste. Traditional aquaculture uses water exchange for waste removal, which may cause pollution and infection of reared species with external pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different aquaculture modes on the antioxidant status, nonspecific immune response, and growth performance of P. monodon, and reveal differences in their microbial communities. The experiment was divided into two groups: one using bioflocs and zero water exchange (Group ZC), and the other using a clear water system (Group C). The results showed that, compared with those in Group C, P. monodon in Group ZC exhibited a higher final body weight, lower feed conversion ratio, higher survival rate, and higher unit yield. Additionally, P. monodon in Group ZC showed higher antioxidant and digestive enzyme activities, as well as upregulated expression of immune-related genes (such as lysozyme, anti-lipopolysaccharide factor, and Toll-like receptors). Therefore, biofloc technology can improve the growth performance, immunity, and antioxidant capacity of P. monodon, offering an environmentally friendly and efficient aquaculture model for P. monodon farming. Full article

Integrating behavioral and physiological assessment is critical to improve our ability to assess animal welfare in biomedical settings. Hair, blood, and saliva samples were collected from 40 recently acquired male African green monkeys (AGMs) to analyze concentrations of hair cortisol, plasma β-endorphin, and lysozyme alongside focal behavioral observations. The statistical methodology utilized machine learning and multivariate generalized linear mixed models to find associations between behaviors and fluctuations of cortisol, lysozyme, and β-endorphin concentrations. The study population was divided into two groups to assess the effectiveness of an enrichment intervention, though the hair cortisol results revealed no difference between the groups. The principal component analysis (PCA) with a Bayesian mixed model analysis reveals several significant patterns in specific behaviors and physiological responses, highlighting the need for further research to deepen our understanding of how behaviors correlate with animal welfare. This study’s methodology demonstrates a more refined approach to interpreting these behaviors that can help improve animal welfare and inform the development of better management practices. Full article

Carrageenan oligosaccharides (COSs) possess versatile activities and have drawn increasing attention in recent years. Due to their unique structures, COSs have been considered to be potential antibacterial agents and immune stimulators. Herein, we aimed to efficiently prepare the COSs by using a novel carrageenase CgkA from Zobellia uliginosa with high activity and further investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with COSs on the growth performance, serum biochemical parameters and non-specific immunity in Carassius auratus gibelio. The results indicated that the CgkA could effectively degrade the carrageenan into oligosaccharides with DPs of 2–6 and the oligosaccharides exhibited promoting effects on growth performance, serum biochemical index and non-specific immune parameters. After a 6-month feeding trial, the SR (Survival Ratio) was significantly higher in fish fed 0.1% (Diet 1), 0.2% (Diet 2), 0.5% (Diet 3) and 1% (Diet 4) COSs diets than that in the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the supplementation of COSs decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the serum and increased the activity of lysozyme (LZM), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). In conclusion, COSs as a dietary supplement enhance the growth performance and non-specific immunity of crucian carp and their resistance to diseases. Full article

Mammary intraductal macrophages (foam cells) in humans are the most commonly encountered cells in spontaneous breast nipple discharge, nipple aspirate fluid, and ductal lavage, yet their origin remains unproven. These cells, in both humans and murine model systems, increase in pregnancy, pseudopregnancy, and other conditions like proliferative fibrocystic disease and intraductal neoplasia, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), where there is intraductal ectasia and obstruction. Previous immunocytochemical studies with macrophage (CD68, lysozyme), epithelial (cytokeratin, estrogen receptor), and myoepithelial (smooth muscle actin, CALLA, maspin) markers have indicated that intraductal foam cells are of macrophage lineage. These foam cells engage in phagocytosis of both endogenous and exogenous substances present within the ducts and are not proliferative. Although it has been suggested that foam cells could derive from tissue-specific and niche-specific precursors or circulating monocytes, to date no experimental nor clinical studies have provided direct proof of their origin. In this study, we provide evidence in both human and murine bone marrow transplant studies that intraductal foam cells are bone marrow-derived. We first studied a registry of sex-mismatched bone marrow transplant recipients who later in life had undergone breast biopsies for either proliferative fibrocystic disease, DCIS, or gynecomastia, and studied these biopsies by XY chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and informative microsatellite polymorphic markers. The intraductal foam cells were of bone marrow donor-origin. Then, in the experimental bone marrow transplant murine studies, donor marrow from female ROSA26 containing the lacZ reporter were transplanted into either irradiated female recipient transgenic mice carrying the highly penetrant MMTV-pymT or FVB/N background mice, where induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from tail vein fibroblasts of FVB/N-Tg(MMTV-PyVT)634Mul/J mice were subsequently injected into their mammary fat pads. In all of the transplanted recipient mice, the intraductal foam cells expressed the β-galactosidase (lacZ) reporter and also co-expressed markers of myeloid–macrophage lineage. The number of donor-derived intraductal foam cells increased in pseudopregnancy 5-fold and in intraductal neoplasia 10-fold. Although macrophages of different origins and lineages are undoubtedly present within both the murine and human breasts, those macrophages that qualify as phagocytic intraductal foam cells are bone marrow-derived. Full article

Serial crystallography (SX) enables the determination of biologically relevant structures at room temperature while minimizing radiation damage. During SX experiments, the beam center on diffraction images can shift due to X-ray beam movements or detector displacement. Consequently, the geometry file for the beam center is optimized; however, the effects of deviations from the optimal position on data processing efficiency remain unclear. This study examines how changes in the beam center influence data quality by analyzing the indexing efficiency and structure refinement of lysozyme and glucose isomerase datasets, considering shifts in the beam center parameter. The results revealed that as the beam center deviated farther from its optimal position, the indexing efficiency declined, with the extent of the effect varying significantly across indexing algorithms. XDS and MOSFLM algorithms maintained high indexing efficiencies (>90%) for shifts of ≤4 pixels (688 μm) and ≤2 pixels (344 μm), respectively, compared to data processed at the optimized beam center. Conversely, the DirAx and XGANDALF algorithms exhibited indexing efficiencies below 90% for a two-pixel shift in the beam center. These findings enhance our understanding of how beam center shifts affect SX data processing and provide valuable insights for developing effective data processing strategies. Full article

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the supplemental plant-based blend Phyto AquaNity (PAN) on growth, profitability and health status of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) cultured in hapas. Juvenile fish of average weight 73 g were stocked in 2-m³ hapas in triplicates at a density of 20 fish m⁻³ (40 fish hapa⁻¹). Four extruded diets were formulated following isonitrogenous (30% CP), isoenergetic (17 MJ kg⁻¹) standards, with incorporation levels of 0, 0.25, 0.50, or 1.00 g of PAN kg⁻¹ diet. Fish were fed the experimental diets at a daily rate of 2–3% of their body weight (BW) over 80 days. From this study, results showed that growth performance and tissue composition were not significantly impacted by these treatments. Feed intake exhibited a significant reduction while feed efficiency was improved in the groups fed 0.5 g kg⁻¹. Diets supplemented with PAN were also more profitable than the control diet, with 0.5 g kg⁻¹ indicating the highest return (9.24% increase). Digestive enzyme activity and hepatic enzyme activity were significantly improved with an increase in the level of PAN up to 0.50 g kg⁻¹. In addition, immune parameters (lysozyme activity, alternative complement and phagocytic cells) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) were significantly enhanced with increasing PAN level up to 0.5 g kg⁻¹ (p < 0.05). Gene expression of cytokines was also upregulated in fish fed with PAN at levels of up to 0.5 g kg⁻¹ (p < 0.05). Moreover, the results showed that higher levels of PAN promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria while reducing the load of pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, intestinal fold length and goblet cell count were significantly increased in the group fed PAN up to 0.5 g kg⁻¹. A quadratic regression analyses performed on feed efficiency, profitability, hepatic enzyme activity and gut microbial load revealed that 0.60–0.65 g kg⁻¹ of feed were the optimal dosages. Regarding immunological and antioxidant responses, the optimal dosages ranged between 0.75 and 0.85 g kg⁻¹. Overall, about 0.60–0.85 g PAN kg⁻¹ feed is suggested for optimum performance, profitability, gut health and overall health status of Nile tilapia, depending on the target objective for which this product is added. Full article

The impact of pathogenic Vibrio on bivalves is expected to be aggravated by global warming, posing a growing threat to aquaculture. Clam production has been particularly vulnerable, with significant losses attributed to the lack of pathogen-resistant strains. In this study, the mantle cavity of the grooved carpet shell clam Ruditapes decussatus (Linnaeus, 1758) was injected with Vibrio splendidus at 18 °C, 22 °C, and 24 °C and the transcription of the phagelysozyme, Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn sod), tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (traf6), inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB), and Fas-associated protein with death domain (fadd) genes were assessed during a 20-day period. Additionally, the coding sequences of lysozyme, fadd, and IκB in Ruditapes decussatus were characterized for the first time, and SNPs were identified. Some SNPs showed significantly different distributions between infection-resistant and infection-susceptible individuals. Infected clams experienced increased mortality at elevated temperatures. Lysozyme mRNA was upregulated in infected groups across all temperatures. The sustained increase on day 20, coinciding with elevated traf6 mRNA, suggests a prolonged activation of the immune response. Cu-Zn sod transcription at 18 °C and 22 °C peaked on day 7 and returned to control levels by day 20, indicating an effective immune response, while at 24 °C, infected animals showed a continuously increased transcription. IκΒ and traf6 transcription, reflecting NF-κB pathway activity, varied with temperature and showed transient stimulation at higher temperatures. The pattern of fadd expression indicated a late induction of apoptosis, particularly at 18 °C and 24 °C. Overall, this study illustrates the involvement of five key genes in host–pathogen interactions and identifies potential markers for selection for Vibrio resistance in Ruditapes decussatus. However, given the weak correlation observed, further research is needed on the link between these polymorphisms and pathogen resilience. Full article

Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is one of the most important aquaculture species in China. Frequent outbreaks of diseases seriously threatened the sustainable development of the industry. It is necessary to understand the causes of disease and study the mechanism of disease resistance in P. clarkii. In this paper, the pathogenic bacteria causing head ulcers in juvenile P. clarkii were found and identified as Citrobacter freundii, which can cause severe pathological changes in the hepatopancreas and intestines of juvenile P. clarkii. Detection of humoral immune factors revealed that PO activity and lysozyme activity of infected P. clarkii were significantly enhanced at 15 and 20 dpi, respectively. Transcriptome analysis was conducted of hepatopancreas from normal and diseased P. clarkii after C. freundii injection, as well as bacteria-free control of P. clarkii. It was found that DEGs are rich in NF-κB, oxidative phosphorylation, JAK/STAT, Leukocyte transendothelial migration, MAPK, and PPAR signaling pathway. These pathways are related to immune modulation, metabolism, and pathogen clearance. Meanwhile, immune-related genes such as Gip, nfyA, psmD13, and FGFR were significantly highly expressed in the normal group, which was verified by qRT-PCR results, suggesting that they may be the key regulatory genes for juvenile P. clarkii resistance to C. freundii. This study will help to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the immune response of P. clarkii to C. freundii. The results are instructive for the prevention and treatment of P. clarkii diseases and for further understanding of the invertebrate immune system. Full article

This study documents the Euphorbiaceae family of plants in Southern Africa, with a focus on their traditional medicinal applications, pharmacological properties, toxicity, and active secondary metabolites. A review of the literature from scientific journals, books, dissertations, and conference papers spanning from 1962 to 2023 was conducted for 15 Euphorbia species. Recent findings indicate that specific compounds found in Euphorbia plants exhibit significant biological and pharmacological properties. However, the white sticky latex sap they contain is highly toxic, although it may also have medicinal applications. Phytochemical analyses have demonstrated that these plants exhibit beneficial effects, including antibacterial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-HIV activities. Key phytochemicals such as euphol, cycloartenol, tirucallol, and triterpenoids contribute to their therapeutic efficacy, along with various proteins like lectin and lysozyme. Despite some Euphorbiaceae species undergoing screening for medicinal compounds, many remain insufficiently examined, highlighting a critical gap in the research literature. Given their historical usage, further investigations are essential to evaluate the medicinal significance of Euphorbia species through detailed studies of isolated compounds and their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. This research will serve as a valuable resource for future inquiries into the benefits of lesser-studied Euphorbia species. Full article

The insect NF-κB pathway is primarily constituted by nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and the inhibitor of κB (IκB), which plays a crucial role in the innate immune response. Dorsal and Cactus, as NF-κB and IκB factors, are important downstream regulators of the Toll pathway in Plutella xylostella. In this study, the PxDorsal and PxCactus genes of P. xylostella were cloned, and the molecular docking demonstrated that PxDorsal and PxCactus can interact with each other. RT-qPCR results indicated that PxDorsal and PxCactus were expressed in all stages, and the expression of PxDorsal, PxCactus, and antimicrobial peptides PxGloverin2, PxMoricin3, and PxLysozyme2 were significantly down-regulated under Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt8010) infection. Interestingly, silencing the PxDorsal gene by RNA interference (RNAi) significantly down-regulated the expression of PxGloverin2 and PxMoricin3 and increased the epidermis melanization of P. xylostella larvae fed with Bt8010. Our findings indicate that PxDorsal and PxCactus may interact with each other, and silencing PxDorsal inhibits the expression of downstream antimicrobial peptides, thereby enhance the susceptibility of P. xylostella to Bt8010. This study contributes a theoretical basis for further research on the Toll pathway of P. xylostella to pathogens and offers insights for screening effective biological control targets from the perspective of the immune system. Full article

Tea polyphenol (TP) is a kind of natural macromolecular compound present in tea extract with rich biological potential. The purpose of this study was to explore the protective effect of TP on the intestinal immune barrier and the related mechanisms of TP alleviating intestinal injury. Models of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and primary intestinal epithelial cells treated with TP and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were established. The qPCR and ELISA results showed that TP increased the levels of lysozyme (LZ), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), complement component 3 (C3), complement component 4 (C4), immunoglobulin T (IgT), immunoglobulin D (IgD), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) to activate intestinal immune ability. Molecular docking indicated that TP had a strong interaction with TLR2. Meanwhile, TP alleviated LPS-induced intestinal inflammatory damage as evidenced by reducing the mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, TLR2, MyD88, P65, and IκBα, which were consistent with those of ELISA and Western blotting results. Moreover, the qPCR and Western blotting results revealed TP promoted the levels of tight junction-related proteins (claudins, occludin, and ZOs) and inhibited the phosphorylation of MLC, which showed the opposite trend after LPS treatment. In summary, the present study indicated that TP improved immune ability and inhibited the activation of the TLR2/NF-κB/MLCK pathway to attenuate LPS-induced inflammatory injury in the intestines of common carp. Full article

Pathogens and challenging conditions in fish farming are common problems that cause mortality and reduce growth performance. Phytogenic feed additives can support the immunity of fish and thereby improve performance, production, and disease resistance. Two experiments with Nile Tilapia aimed to evaluate the effects of a matrix-encapsulated phytogenic additive (Digestarom^® P.E.P. MGE) in different feed formulations, which vary in the marine meal inclusion level (5% and 12.8%), on growth performance and resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae. Fish were stocked in a recirculating aquaculture tank system per experiment and were fed with diets with or without the phytogenic supplementation for 8 weeks (six replicates per group). After an intraperitoneal injection with a sterilized saline solution and bath immersion with S. agalactiae (5 × 10⁶ CFU/mL), mortality of the fish was recorded for 20 days. Independent of the diet formulation, the supplementation with the phytogenic feed additive significantly improved the fish production; feed conversion ratio; immune response (mainly lactic acid dehydrogenase, differential blood cell counts, and the lysozyme activity in blood); and fish survival after the S. agalactiae challenge. Thus, phytogenic feed additives are promising strategies to improve Nile tilapia production by enhancing fish growth performance, health, and protection against S. agalactiae infections. Full article

A feeding trial was conducted for 120 days in a pilot field condition to evaluate ginger powder (GP; Zingiber officinale) as a feed supplement for Labeo rohita to improve immunity, blood metabolic profile, and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila bacterial infection. The study was conducted following a complete randomized design in outdoor cemented tanks (20 m²) with a stocking density of 30 fish (average weight: 20.5 g) per tank. L. rohita fingerlings were divided into five groups and fed a diet with no GP supplementation (control diet; C) or a diet supplemented with 5 g (GP5), 10 g (GP10), 15 g (GP15), or 20 g (GP20) of GP per kg of the control diet. The results showed that fish well-being, determined by measuring the condition factor, remained higher than 1.0 for all the experimental groups. The condition factors of all the groups were not significantly different between the groups, suggesting GP had no negative impact on overall fish health. Immune responses significantly improved in the groups fed with diets supplemented with GP at doses of 10 to 15 g per kg of their diet, as seen in respiratory burst activity, total immunoglobulins, and lysozyme activity at 60 and 120 days. Blood metabolic variables, particularly the albumin level, tended to show some level of improvement in the GP15-fed group. However, the effect was not significant. Total protein and globulin levels and the albumin/globulin ratio were not significantly affected by dietary GP. Importantly, fish fed the GP15 diet showed the highest resistance to the A. hydrophila challenge. In conclusion, ginger powder holds promise as a health-promoting nutraceutical for farmed L. rohita, contributing to their sustainable farming. Full article

The emulsification of natural pigment is a widely utilized strategy to enhance its stability in the food industry. However, high turbidity in emulsions often causes color fading, limiting their application. Here, we developed a comprehensive Pickering emulsion (PE) system to improve the color intensity and stability of turmeric oleoresin (Tur) under various food processing conditions. Specifically, the effects of two encapsulation positions within the PE were compared: the inner oil phase (Tur-IPE) and the outer solid particle layer (Tur-OPE). Lysozyme and carboxymethyl cellulose nanoparticles (NPs) were used as natural solid particle surfactants, with their successful formation confirmed through physical property analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. The optimal oil fraction (φ) for suitable physical properties of PE was determined to be 0.2. Interestingly, Tur-OPE significantly exceeded Tur-conventional emulsions (Tur-CE) and Tur-IPE in terms of color vividness, exhibiting higher redness and lower lightness (p < 0.05). During thermal processing at 70 and 90 °C, all emulsions demonstrated significantly enhanced heat resistance, retaining 1.3 to 1.6 times more Tur, respectively, compared to unencapsulated Tur (free Tur) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Tur’s pH instability was significantly overcome by encapsulation in all emulsion systems (p < 0.05). During 4 weeks of storage period, Tur-OPE demonstrated the highest retention rates, with the half-life of Tur increasing in the following order: free Tur < Tur-CE < Tur-IPE < Tur-OPE. Thus, we highlighted the important role of encapsulation position in PEs in improving and maintaining the color stability and vividness of natural pigments under various food processing conditions. Full article

As the global demand for aquafeed ingredients continues to rise, sourcing sustainable alternatives is crucial for aquaculture industries. This study aimed to explore the potential of enzymatic hydrolysate as a substitute for traditional fishmeal and soybean meal in diets for juvenile sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus). Three isonitrogenous (15% crude protein) and isolipidic (2.4% crude lipid) diets were formulated: a control diet containing 10% fishmeal and 5% soybean meal and two experimental low-fishmeal (8%) and low-soybean meal (0%) diets, supplemented with either 8% enzymatically hydrolyzed fish stickwater (EFS) or 8% enzymatically hydrolyzed chicken pulp (ECP), designated as Control, EFS, and ECP, respectively. Juvenile sea cucumbers (initial body weight, 0.25 ± 0.01 g) were fed these diets for 84 days to evaluate the effects of ECP and EFS on their growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory responses. The results revealed significantly higher final weights and specific growth rates in both experimental groups than the control (p < 0.05). The proximate chemical compositions of sea cucumber were less affected by the diets (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, significantly elevated levels of digestive enzymes, antioxidants, and lysozyme, together with lower malondialdehyde levels, were recorded in the experimental groups (p < 0.05). ECP appeared to exhibit greater potency than EFS in enhancing growth performance and antioxidant capacity. Similar trends were observed in the mRNA expression of SOD, CAT, and inflammation-related genes across the groups. In a nutshell, both ECP and EFS supplemented in a low-fishmeal and low-soybean meal diet could effectively promote the growth and health of A. japonicus, with ECP showing a superior effect over EFS. These findings suggest that enzymatic hydrolysate demonstrates potential as a viable alternative to traditional fishmeal and soybean meal in diets for sustainable sea cucumber aquaculture. Further investigations are warranted to reveal its underlying mechanism. Full article