Acid Blends Research Articles

Effects of functional amino acid blend dietary supplementation with different feeding regimens on growth performance and protein utilization in weaned pigs

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of functional amino acid (AA) blend dietary supplementation with different feeding regimens on growth performance and protein utilization in weaned pigs. Pigs were fed either a standard (STD) diet or a supplemental (SUP) diet, which included an additional AA blend in the STD diet. Ninety-six piglets (6.51 ± 0.34 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four feeding regimens: a STD diet throughout the experiment, or a SUP diet for phase I (SUP7), until phase II (SUP21), or until phase III (SUP35). During phase I, pigs fed an SUP diet exhibited a greater ( P < 0.05) average daily gain and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) than those fed the STD diet. Pigs in the SUP35 group had a higher ( P < 0.05) G:F than those in the SUP7 group. Pigs in the SUP21 and SUP35 groups had greater ( P < 0.05) digestibility of N than those in the SUP7 group. Pigs in the SUP35 group had upregulated ( P < 0.05) mRNA encoding mammalian targets of rapamycin and cationic AA transporter1 in longissimus dorsi than those in the SUP21 group. Feeding the SUP diet throughout the 5-week nursery phase is recommended to achieve optimal growth performance and protein metabolism.

Supercritical CO2 extrusion foaming of highly open-cell poly(lactic acid) foam with superior oil adsorption performance

Addressing marine oil spills and industrial water pollution necessitates the development of eco-efficient oil-absorbing materials. With increasing concern for the environment, there is a consensus to decrease the use of petroleum-based polymers. Herein, lightweight poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blend foams with varying thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) content were fabricated via a solvent-free, eco-friendly supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extrusion foaming technology. The incorporation of TPU significantly enhanced the crystallization rate of PLA, with the semi-crystallization time of PT30 and PT50 blends at 105 °C exhibiting a reduction of 77.2 % and 47.9 %, respectively, compared to neat PLA. The resulting foams exhibited an open-cell structure with excellent selective oil adsorption capabilities. Notably, the PT30 foam achieved a remarkable maximum expansion ratio of 36.0, while the PT50 foam attained the highest open-cell content of 96.2 %. The PT50 foam demonstrated an outstanding adsorption capacity, spanning from 4.7 to 18.8 g/g for diverse oils and solvents, with rapid adsorption kinetics, reaching 94.9 % of the equilibrium adsorption capacity for CCl4 within just 1 min. Furthermore, the PT50 foam retained 95.2 % of its adsorption capacity for CCl4 over 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. This study presents a scalable and sustainable approach for large-scale production of high-performance, bio-based foams, facilitating efficient oil-water separation.

PSIII-2 Evaluation of medium-chain fatty acids on just-weaned piglet performance and diarrhea scores: A nursery trial

Abstract Weaning is one of the most stressful events for commercial pigs. The transition from mother’s milk (animal proteins) to a solid diet based on plant proteins, the reduction in lactose intake and the decline in HCl secretion by the digestive system of the piglet result in a sudden and significant increase in stomach pH as well as an increased risk of post-weaning diarrhea. The aim of this trial was to evaluate whether the use of a blend of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) on top-off conventional nursery diets would improve zootechnical performance and intestinal problems in just-weaned piglets. Piglets [n = 624, 21-d of age, 6.5 kg body weight (BW), (♂ Fast Duroc x ♀ Fast 275)] were housed in 26 pens of an experimental nursery. Each pen (24 pigs/pen, with a starting density of 3.0 ft2/pig) was equipped with a height-adjustable water sucker, a water bowl and fitted with a single feeder-bin. Females and males were allocated to each pen, according to 3 BW categories (heavy, medium, and light). During a 46-d period of trial, the piglets (13 replicated pens per treatment) were allotted to a conventional 5 phases feeding program with 2 kg/MT of chlortetracycline (22%) and 400 g/MT of tiamuline (1.78%; CON). These basal diets contained 2,500 ppm Zn in Phases #1, 2, and only 2,000 ppm Zn in phase #3. Phases #1 to 3 were also supplemented with Ca-butyrate (1 kg/MT) and a blend of protected acidifiers (1 kg/MT). The treated group consisted to the basal diet (CON) supplemented with a blend of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) at 1.0 or 0.75 kg/MT for Phases #1, 2,3 and Phases #4, 5, respectively and supplying of a proprietary blend of caprylic, capric, and lauric acids. Daily feed consumption, weekly pig pen BW, dead and removed pigs and daily diarrhea evaluation index were completed. Data are analyzed by an ANOVA model including treatment and pen as fixed and random effects, respectively. Pairwise comparisons were completed with a Chi-square test. The overall results are presented in Table 1. At the end of wk 2 and 3, animals receiving MCFAs had a better average daily gain (ADG; P < 0.05) than CON. Therefore, at wk 2, 3 and 4, MCFAs animals BW were heavier than CON ones (P < 0.05). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) was not significantly different for the overall duration of the trial (P > 0.05). However, at weeks 2 and 3, MCFAs piglets had a greater ADFI than CON ones (P < 0.05). The daily diarrhea index of the MCFAs group was less than CON at wk 3 (P < 0.05). In this trial, the significant improvement of diarrhea index on just-weaned MCFAs treated piglets could explain the significant better growth during the first 3 wk of nursery.

73 Effects of blend of organic acids and monoglycerides on immune responses of weaned pigs experimentally infected with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18

Abstract Our previous research implies that dietary supplementation of organic acids blend, monoglycerides blend, and the combination of both can mitigate diarrhea of weaned pigs infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli) F18. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with a blend of organic acids, a blend of monoglycerides, or the combination of both on immune responses of weaned pigs experimentally infected with E. coli F18. Forty pigs [average body weight (BW) = 7.81 ± 0.84 kg] were individually housed and randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups with 10 replicate pigs per treatment. The four dietary treatments were: () Control: nursery basal diet, 2) Acids: basal diet supplemented with a blend of organic acids (formic acid, lactic acid, and sodium formate) at 0.3%, 3) Monoglycerides: basal diet supplemented with a blend of monoglycerides of fatty acids at 0.3%, or 4) Combination of acids and monoglycerides: basal diet added with the acids blend at 0.2% and the monoglycerides blend at 0.2%. The experiment lasted 28 d, with 7 d before and 21 d after the first inoculation (d 0). All pigs were orally inoculated with E. coli F18 (1010 CFU/3 mL) for 3 consecutive days from d 0. Serum samples were collected on d 0, 2, 5, and 14 post-inoculation (PI) to measure the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin using ELISA. Porcine Cytokine/Chemokine13-Plex Discovery Assay (Eve Technology, Canada) was also conducted with serum samples from d 0, 5, and 14 PI. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using PROC MIXED of SAS with a randomized complete block design. The concentrations of serum CRP and haptoglobin were increased (P < 0.0001) on d 2 PI and then gradually decreased on d 5 and 14 PI. However, no differences were observed in serum CRP and haptoglobin concentrations among all treatment groups throughout the experiment. Pigs fed with monoglycerides tended (P < 0.10) to have decreased serum granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin 1-alpha (IL-1α), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations on d 0 PI compared with other treatments. Pigs supplemented with monoglycerides also tended (P < 0.10) to have decreased GM-CSF on d 5 PI and less IL-1α on d 14 PI among all treatments. Supplementation of the combination tended (P < 0.10) to have greater GM-CSF concentration on d 5 PI compared with other treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of monoglycerides blend or the combination of organic acids and monoglycerides alleviates systemic inflammation of weaned pigs during E. coli F18 infection by modulating related cytokines. However, additional research is needed to understand the modulation mechanisms.

189 Combination of organic acid and monoglyceride blend improved growth performance in nursery pigs with and without added antibiotics and ZnO

Abstract This study was to investigate the effects of supplementing a combination of organic acid and monoglyceride additives in feed with and without added antibiotics and pharmacological levels of ZnO on growth performance of nursery pigs. Pigs (n = 1,008; 21 d of age with initial body weight (BW) = 5.8] were assigned to 4 treatments (n = 12, 21 pigs/pen, mixed sex) following 2 × 2 factorial experiment design and fed for 42 d in 4 phases (d 0-8, d 9-21, d 22-35, and d 36-42, respectively). Treatments were 1) Positive control (PC), basal diet with in-feed antibiotics in phase 1-3, and 3000 ppm of Zn in phase 1, 2000 ppm of Zn in phase 2 and 125 ppm of Zn in phase 3 and 4 (i.e., pharmacological levels); 2) PC supplemented with the combination of Acitra G20C (formic acid-based acid blend on inert carrier) and Entero-Nova 410C (blend of monoglycerides of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids on inert carrier), Acitra G20C was added at 3 kg/MT in phase 1 diet and 1.5 kg/MT in phase 2 diet, while Entero-Nova 410C was added at 3 kg/MT in phase 1 and 2 diets, and 1 kg/MT in phase 3 and 4 diets; 3) Negative control (NC), basal diet without in-feed antibiotics and pharmacological levels of ZnO; and 4) NC supplemented with the combination of Acitra G20C and Entero-Nova 410C (same supplementation rate as Treatment 2). Diets contained nutrients meeting or exceeding NRC requirements. Growth performance was measured for each phase. Data were analyzed using JMP software with pen serving as the experimental unit and differences considered significant at P ≤ 0.05. Throughout the trial, pigs fed diets without in-feed antibiotics and pharmacological levels of ZnO had ess (P < 0.01) BW, average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) than pigs fed diets added with antibiotics and pharmacological levels of ZnO. During the period of phase 2 and overall phase 1 and 2 of the trial, pigs fed diets supplemented with the combination of Acitra and Entero-Nova additives had greater (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI and greater (P < 0.05) BW on d 22 of trial. In phase 3 and 4, there was no significant improvement on growth performance of pigs fed diet only supplemented with 1 kg/MT of Entero-Nova comparing with the pigs in control groups. In conclusion, under current trial conditions, the combination of Acitra G20C and Entero-Nova 410C improved growth performance of nursery pigs in phase 1 and 2 when supplemented at tested dosage comparing with pigs in control groups without the additives.

PSI-4 Evaluation of chemical mitigants when soybean meal was inoculated with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory virus, and Seneca Valley virus 1

Abstract Chemical mitigants have been found to decrease virus concentrations in feed and ingredient matrices. Continued research is needed to identify the appropriate inclusion levels and application time for different viruses in these matrices. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate different inclusion levels of two different chemical mitigants when applied either before or after inoculation of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Seneca Valley virus 1 (SVV1) to soybean meal. The experiment was designed in a 2×2×2 factorial with two chemical mitigants, a formaldehyde-based product (Termin-8, Anitox Corp. Lawrenceville, GA) and a product containing Synergistic blend of phytochemicals and carboxylic acids (Finio, Anitox Corp. Lawrenceville, GA), two applications times, before virus inoculation (prevention) and after virus inoculation (mitigation), and either a low or high inclusion level (Termin-8: 2 or 3 kg/MT; Finio: 1.75 or 2.75 kg/MT). On d 1, samples of the respective matrices were weighed in 50 g aliquots and added to 500 mL bottles. Chemical mitigants were applied to the prevention samples at their respective inclusion levels and 50 µL each of 1×107 TCID50/mL PEDV, 1×108 TCID50/mL PRRSV, and 1×108 TCID50/mL SVV1 were added to the mitigation samples. All bottles were shaken and allowed to sit at room temperature for 24 h. On d 2, virus was added to the prevention samples and chemical mitigants were added to the mitigation bottles, samples incubated at room temperature for 1 h before 200 mL of phosphate buffer solution was added, and bottles incubated at 4°C for 18 h. After incubation, liquid from the samples was centrifuged and the supernatant analyzed via triplex PCR at Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Cycle threshold and proportion PCR positive were analyzed using SAS GLIMMIX v 9.4 (SAS, Inc., Cary, NC) with each virus and matrix combination analyzed individually. A chemical mitigant×application time×inclusion level interaction was not observed (P > 0.05) for any virus. A chemical mitigant×application time interaction was observed (P < 0.05) in all three viruses, where less viral RNA was detected (P < 0.05) when either Termin-8 or Finio were applied after inoculation (mitigation) than when applied prior to inoculation or to the positive controls. An application time×inclusion level interaction was noticed (P < 0.05) for SVV1 and PEDV in soybean meal. Chemical mitigants applied at either the low or high inclusion level after inoculation (mitigation) had less detectable RNA (P < 0.05) than their prevention counterparts. Overall, Termin-8 and Finio can reduce detectable RNA immediately in contaminated soybean meal, with ongoing research evaluating the effect of extended contact times between the mitigants and soybean meal.

177 Modulation of fecal microbiome by phytogenics, a postbiotic, and mix of organic acids with essential oils in weaned pigs subjected to F18 Escherichia coli challenge

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of bioactive feed ingredients on fecal microbiome of weaned pigs subjected to F18 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) challenge. Two blocks of weaned pigs [n = 72; Yorkshire/Landrace/Duroc; initial body weight (BW) = 6.62 ± 1.37 kg] were balanced by gender and litter and randomly allocated to one of the six treatments with 12 pens/block and 6 pigs/pen. Treatments included: 1) basal diet (NC), 2) NC + 0.1% phytogenic (Fresta Protect, Delacon, Austria; PFP), 3) NC + 0.2% postbiotic (Dia-V Nursery, Diamond V, IA; PB), 4) NC + 0.2% new phytogenic prototype (Delacon, Austria; NPP), 5) NC + 0.2% organic acid and essential oil blend (OA+EO), and 6) NC + 0.1% phytogenic (Fresta Protect) + 0.2% postbiotic (Dia-V Nursery; PFP+PB). The trial lasted 15 d, with a 7-d pre-challenge and 8-d post-challenge periods. Pigs were orally inoculated with 5 x 1010 CFU/mL of F18 ETEC (O147:H2, LT:STb:STa:Stx2:F18) on d 8 and 9 of study after 5-h fasting. Fecal swabs were collected before challenge (d 8) and 3- and 8-d post-challenge (d 10 and 15 of study) and subjected to shotgun metagenomics. Diarrhea score and E. coli shedding (CFU/mL) were monitored daily and analyzed using a multi-level mixed effect ordinal logistic regression with block and pen as random effects. Microbiome data were center-log-ratio transformed and analyzed for diversity, abundance, and interaction networks. At 3-d post-challenge, the OA+EO, PFP+PB and NPP supplemented pigs had reduced (P < 0.001) E. coli shedding compared with NC. Diarrhea score tended to be less (P = 0.054) in PFP+PB fed pigs 5-d post-challenge and was less (P = 0.02) in PFP+PB, OA+EO, and NPP 6-d post-challenge than NC. Alpha-diversity declined (P < 0.01) 3-d post-challenge with most reduction in PFP and OA+EO but recovered 8-d post-challenge except for PFP and OA+EO (P < 0.01). At the baseline and 8-d post-challenge, the largest number of differentially abundant taxa (P < 0.05) were observed in PFP+PB compared with NC. The PFP+PB reduced the abundances of Escherichia.sp000208585 and Campylobacter.P585 which were negatively correlated (P < 0.01) with average daily gain (ADG) and BW, and positively correlated (P < 0.01) with diarrhea score and E. coli shedding. The PFP+PB increased beneficial species including Prevotella.sp900543585, Mitsuokella jalaludinii, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii with the first two positively correlated (P < 0.01) with ADG and BW, and negatively correlated (P < 0.01) with diarrhea score and E. coli shedding. By d-8 post-challenge, PFP+PB microbial network had the highest degree of negative connections suggestive of a more competitive microbial ecosystem against opportunistic microorganisms compared with NC. In conclusion, co-supplementation of Fresta Protect phytogenic and postbiotic promoted a microbiome with greater beneficial and reduced detrimental bacteria resulting in low diarrhea score post-challenge.

192 Effects of inclusion of a probiotic and/or a postbiotic in diets containing a phytogenic feed additive on growth performance and fecal microbiome composition and function of nursery pigs

Abstract This study investigated the effects of inclusion of a Bacillus-based probiotic and a postbiotic from Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation (Dia-V Nursery, Diamond V, IA) in diets containing a phytogenic feed additive (Fresta Protect, Delacon, Austria) on growth performance and fecal microbiome of pigs. Weaned pigs [n = 1,840; 19 d old; initial body weight (BW) = 6.1 ± 0.2 kg] were allotted to 16 replicate pens/ treatment (23 pigs/pen) in 2 barns. Pens were blocked by location within barn and randomly allotted to 5 treatments: 1) Basal diet (NC), 2) NC without specialty fats (soy oil blend and medium chain fatty acid blend) + 0.1% phytogenic (PC), 3) PC + 0.05% probiotic (1.1 x 106 CFU/kg of complete feed; PC+Prob), 4) PC + 0.2% postbiotic (PC+Post), and 5) PC + 0.05% probiotic + 0.2% postbiotic (PC+Prob+Post). Pigs were fed experimental diets during phase 1 (d 0-10) and 2 (d 10-23). Pig and feed weights were recorded at the beginning and end of each phase. Fecal samples were collected from 2 pigs/pen (n = 32/treatment) on d 7 and 25 post-wean and subjected to DNA extraction and shotgun metagenomics to evaluate gut microbiome. Performance data were analyzed using the lme4 package of R with treatment as fixed effect and barn and pen location within barn as random effects. Microbiome data were center-log-ratio transformed and analyzed for alpha- and beta-diversity, differentially abundant taxa and genes, microbial network, and carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZy). No differences on performance, mortality or removals were observed during phase 1, phase 2, or overall among treatments (Table 1). Microbiome features were similar between NC and PC. The PC+Prob did not affect alpha- and beta-diversities of microbiome. The PC+Post reduced (P < 0.05) alpha-diversity on d 7 compared with PC and affected (P < 0.05) beta-diversity on both timepoints. The PC+Post had the greatest number of differentially abundant taxa (P < 0.05) compared with PC both on d 7 (27 taxa) and 25 (14 taxa). The PC+Post had greater (P < 0.05) presence of CAZy including glycoside hydrolases, glycosyltransferases and carbohydrate-binding modules on both timepoints. Inclusion of probiotic and postbiotic separately or in combination reduced (P < 0.05) the number of positive connections within the microbial network suggesting these additives promoted a more competitive microbial ecosystem against opportunistic microorganisms compared with PC. Inclusion of postbiotic speeded up the progression of microbiome toward a more mature community. This resulted in reduction of diversity but increased carbohydrate enzyme capability making microbial community leaner and more effective. In conclusion, replacement of specialty fats with a phytogenic did not affect piglet performance or microbiome under non-challenge conditions and no differences in performance were observed between PC pigs and those supplemented with a probiotic or postbiotic despite the effects observed in microbiome.

Effects of a blend of acidifiers added continuously to the drinking water of nursery piglets

Context Adding organic and inorganic acids to the drinking water is a potential alternative to improve production results in nursery piglets, and a strategy for reducing the use of antimicrobials. Aims To assess the effects of adding a blend of organic and inorganic acids to drinking water on the oxireduction potential (ORP) of water, and growth performance, biochemical, antioxidant and blood gas profiles, intestinal morphometry, biometry of organs, and intestinal microbiome of nursery piglets. Methods Experiment involved 1080 female piglets assessed over 30 days (Landrace × Large White, weaned at 26 days of age, weighing 6.8 ± 0.29 kg), randomly assigned to the following three treatments: (1) piglets received drinking water of natural pH of 7.39 (pH7.39), (2) piglets received drinking water of pH of 5.31 (pH5.31), and (3) piglets received drinking water of pH of 3.40 (pH3.40), with eight replicates and 45 piglets/stall. Piglets had ad libitum access to diet and water throughout the experiment, and received different diets in each phase. Key results Receiving drinking water of pH3.40 promoted a higher ORP, and a lower total water consumption was observed in Starter II piglets with pH5.31. There was no treatment effect on the performance, but mortality was lower in starter piglets in the pH3.40 treatment. Animals in the pH3.40 treatment had lower blood alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, differing from the result obtained for total cholesterol concentrations. Animals in the pH3.40 treatment showed a lower concentration of total protein than did piglets in the pH7.39 treatment. Piglets in the pH3.40 treatment had higher weights of empty stomach, spleen, and liver with gallbladder than did those in the pH7.39 treatment. Animals in the pH3.40 treatment showed a lower relative abundance of the Escherichia–Shigella genus and bacteria of Enterobacteriaceae family than did those in the pH5.31 treatment. Conclusions Acidification of drinking water to pH3.40 for nursery piglets can be used to partially increase the ORP of the water, and promote a greater weight of organs with metabolic and immune functions, while decreasing mortality. In addition, acidification of drinking water does not compromise performance or intestinal histology, but improves the profile of the intestinal microbiome in piglets. Implications This research has provided new information on the effects of acidifiers in the drinking water for nursery piglets and has shown their potential use for bolstering general health.

Highly fluorescent hybrid nanofibers as potential nanofibrous scaffolds for studying cell-fiber interactions

In this study, we report on the fabrication of hybrid nanofibers for labeling and bioimaging applications. Our approach is involved for developing highly fluorescent nanofibers using a blend of polylactic acid, polyethyleneglycol, and perylenediimide dyes, through the solution blow spinning technique. The nanofibers are exhibited diameters ranging from 330 nm to 420 nm. Nanofibers showed excellent red and near-infrared fluorescence emissive properties in fluorescent spectroscopy. Moreover, the strong two–photon absorption phenomenon was observed for nanofibers under confocal microscopy. To assess the applicability of these fluorescent nanofibers in bioimaging settings, we employ two types of mammalian cells B16F1 melanoma cells and J774.A1 macrophages. Both cell types exhibit negligible cytotoxicity after 24 h incubation with the nanofibers, indicating the suitability of nanofibers for cell–based experiments. We also observe strong interactions between the nanofibers and cells, as evidenced by two major events: a) the acquisition of an elongated cellular morphology with the major cellular axis parallel to the nanofibers and b) the accumulation of actin filaments along the points of contact of the cells with the fibers. Our findings demonstrate the suitability of these newly developed fluorescent nanofibers in cell–based applications for guiding cellular behavior. We expect that these fluorescent nanofibers have the potential to serve as scaffold materials for long–time tracking of cell–fiber interactions in fluorescence microscopy.

Recent development of poly (lactic acid) blends with a thermoplastic elastomer compatibilised for fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing

Recent development of poly (lactic acid) blends with a thermoplastic elastomer compatibilised for fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing

Performance of Recycled Polylactic Acid/Amorphous Polyhydroxyalkanoate Blends.

Blends of polylactic acid (PLA) with amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate (aPHA) are less brittle than neat PLA, thus enabling their use as biodegradable packaging. This work investigated the impact of recycling on the properties of neat PLA and PLA/aPHA blends with 90 and 75 wt. % PLA. After the materials were subjected to five heat histories in a single-screw extruder, the mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties were measured. All recycled compounds with 100% PLA and 75% PLA had similar decomposition behavior, whereas the decomposition temperatures for the blends with 90% PLA decreased with each additional heat cycle. The glass transition and melting temperatures were not impacted by reprocessing, but the crystallinity increased with more heat cycles. The complex viscosity of the reprocessed PLA and PLA/aPHA blends was much lower than for the neat PLA and increasing the number of heat cycles produced smaller reductions in the complex viscosity of 100% PLA and the blend with 90% PLA; no change in complex viscosity was observed for blends with 75% PLA exposed to 2 to 5 heat cycles. The tensile properties were not affected by reprocessing, whereas the impact strength for the 75% PLA blend decreased with reprocessing. These properties suggest that users will be able to incorporate scrap into the neat resin for thermoformed packaging.

Blends of Organic Acids Are Weaponizing the Host iNOS and Nitric Oxide to Reduce Infection of Piscirickettsia salmonis in vitro.

For the last 30 years, Piscirickettsia salmonis has caused major economic losses to the aquaculture industry as the aetiological agent for the piscirickettsiosis disease. Replacing the current interventions, based on antibiotics, with natural alternatives (e.g., organic acids) represents a priority. With this study, we aimed to better understand their biological mechanism of action in an in vitro model of infection with salmon epithelial cells (CHSE-214). Our first observation revealed that at the sub-inhibitory concentration of 0.5%, the organic acid blend (Aq) protected epithelial cell integrity and significantly reduced P. salmonis invasion. The MIC was established at 1% Aq and the MBC at 2% against P. salmonis. The sub-inhibitory concentration significantly increased the expression of the antimicrobial peptides Cath2 and Hepcidin1, and stimulated the activity of the innate immune effector iNOS. The increase in iNOS activity also led to higher levels of nitric oxide (NO) being released in the extracellular space. The exposure of P. salmonis to the endogenous NO caused an increase in bacterial lipid peroxidation levels, a damaging effect which can ultimately reduce the pathogen's ability to attach or multiply intracellularly. We also demonstrate that the increased NO release by the host CHSE-214 cells is a consequence of direct exposure to Aq and is not dependent on P. salmonis infection. Additionally, the presence of Aq during P. salmonis infection of CHSE-214 cells significantly mitigated the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-8, IL-12, and IFNγ. Taken together, these results indicate that, unlike antibiotics, natural antimicrobials can weaponize the iNOS pathway and secreted nitric oxide to reduce infection and inflammation in a Piscirickettsia salmonis in vitro model of infection.

The effect of filler loading, biological treatment, and bioplastic blend ratio on flexural and impact properties of blended bioplastic reinforced with spent coffee ground

AbstractIn this study, the mechanical and morphological characteristics of poly(hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blend matrix reinforced with spent coffee ground (SCG) were investigated across various weight ratios (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100) and SCG contents (10–40 wt%). SEM micrographs revealed a phase‐separated structure with cracks on the fracture surface, consistent with the lower flexural properties of biocomposites. The incorporation of SCG reduced mechanical properties, mainly due to its incompatibility with the PHA/PLA matrix. Biocomposites with high SCG content demonstrated lower energy absorption capabilities, likely due to SCG aggregates acting as stress concentrators and disrupting load‐transferring mechanisms. Moreover, increasing PHA content in the blends led to higher PLA crystallinity, as PHA acted as a nucleating agent for PLA. For biological treatment, biocomposites with PHA/PLA ratio (50/50) and SCG loading (20 wt%) were employed. The microscopic analysis highlighted well‐dispersed treated SCG within the matrix and improved interfacial contact. Biocomposites with treated SCG demonstrated remarkable enhancements of 52% and 113% in flexural strength and modulus, respectively. These findings proved the effectiveness of sustainable fungal treatment in enhancing interfacial adhesion and improving the mechanical performance of biocomposites.Highlights Percentage of SCG in bioplastic blend as a significant effect on the flexural properties and impact strength. The ratio of the bioplastic blend has the strong influence on the flexural properties and impact properties. Biological treatment of SCG has improved the interfacial interaction between SCG and bioplastic blend. The treated SCG has rougher surface which facilitates the interfacial locking between bioplastic blend and treated SCG. The biological treatment of SCG has improved the mechanical properties of the composites.

Combined application of bacteriophages with a competitive exclusion culture and carvacrol with organic acids can reduce Campylobacter in primary broiler production

For reducing Campylobacter (C.) in the food production chain and thus the risk to the consumer, the combined application of different measures as a multiple-hurdle approach is currently under discussion. This is the first study to investigate possible synergistic activities in vivo, aiming at reducing intestinal C. jejuni counts by administering (i) bacteriophages (phages) in combination with a competitive exclusion (CE) product and (ii) carvacrol combined with organic acids. The combined application of the two selected phages (Fletchervirus phage NCTC 12673 and Firehammervirus phage vB_CcM-LmqsCPL1/1) and the CE product significantly reduced C. jejuni loads by 1.0 log10 in cecal and colonic contents as well as in cloacal swabs at the end of the trial (33 and 34 days post hatch). The proportion of bacterial isolates showing reduced phage susceptibility ranged from 10.9% (isolates from cecal content) to 47.8% (isolates from cloacal swabs 32 days post hatch) for the Fletchervirus phage, while all tested isolates remained susceptible to the Firehammervirus phage. The use of carvacrol combined with an organic acid blend (sorbic acid, benzoic acid, propionic acid, and acetic acid) significantly reduced Campylobacter counts by 1.0 log10 in cloacal swabs on day 30 only.

Mucoadhesive electrospun nanofibrous poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(lactic acid) matrices for the ocular delivery of moxifloxacin: a novel application of hyaluronic acid and xanthan gum blend as mucoadhesive coating agent

The use of ocular inserts (OS) as vehicles for the delivery of antimicrobial agents to the eye is rapidly growing. In fact, the intraOS can deliver the antibiotics to the ocular surface after ophthalmic surgeries i.e., cataract. This was a rational progress of pharmaceutical field given that the conventional dosage forms i.e., drops present many limitations. Considering this fact, in this study novel nanofibrous inserts based on poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(lactic acid) prepared via electrospinning process and used to load an antibiotic drug, moxifloxacin. The used aliphatic polyesters are biocompatible but do not present mucoadhesion which is essential for ocular drug delivery. Therefore, two known mucoadhesive agents, hyaluronic acid and xanthan gum, were blended in various concentrations (0.1 and 0.2%) and used for the coating of the fibers. The fibrous inserts have mean diameters in the range 500–1000 nm. The inserts showed stability over time, improved water uptake and improved mechanical properties. In vitro cytotoxicity studies revealed the biocompatibility of the structures. From in vitro release studies, a controlled release rate was depicted while the inserts demonstrated desirable antimicrobial properties. It can be concluded that the coated OS can be potent ocular delivery carriers of moxifloxacin battling against eye infections.

Impact of Air-Drying Temperatures on Drying Kinetics, Physicochemical Properties, and Bioactive Profile of Ginger.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a perishable commodity that requires proper processing to maintain its bioactivity. This study evaluated the effect of different air-drying temperatures (50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C) on ginger's drying kinetics and quality attributes. For an enhanced understanding of the drying kinetics, we employed a detailed approach by combining an existing drying model (namely, Midilli) with the Arrhenius model. This combined model facilitates a thorough analysis of how temperature and time concurrently affect the moisture ratio, offering more profound insights into the drying mechanism. A higher drying rate was achieved at 70 °C, yet elevated drying temperatures could compromise the quality attributes of ginger slices. Ginger slices dried at 50 °C displayed improved physicochemical properties and less color browning. The evaluation of the bioactivity profile of resultant ginger extracts also revealed higher total phenolic contents (1875.87 ± 31.40 mg GAE/100 g) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (18.2 ± 0.9 mg TE/kg) in 50 °C treated ginger samples. Meanwhile, the hydroethanolic mixture (70% ethanol) was also reorganized with better extraction efficiency than water and MWF (a ternary blend of methanol, water, and formic acid) solution. The promising outcomes of this study endorse the influence of drying temperature on the quality characteristics and bioactive profile of ginger and the selection of suitable extraction solvents to acquire phenolic-rich extract.

Antimicrobial efficacy of a citric acid/hydrochloric acid blend, peroxyacetic acid, and sulfuric acid against Salmonella and background microbiota on chicken hearts and livers.

This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a blend of citric acid and hydrochloric acid (CP), peroxyacetic acid (PAA), and sulfuric acid (SA) against Salmonella and mesophilic aerobic plate counts (APC) on chicken hearts and livers. Samples were inoculated with a five-serovar cocktail of Salmonella at ca. 4.8logCFU/g and treated by immersion with a water control (90s), CP (5% v/v, 30s), PAA (0.05% v/v or 500ppm, 90s), or SA (2% v/v, 30s), all at 4°C and with mechanical agitation. Samples were vacuum packed and stored for up to 3 days at 4°C. Three independent replications were performed for each product, treatment, and time combination. The average Salmonella reductions in chicken hearts after 3 days were 1.33±0.25, 1.40±0.04, and 1.32±0.12logCFU/g for PAA, SA, and CP, respectively. For chicken livers, the values were 1.10±0.12, 1.09±0.19, and 0.96±0.27 for PAA, SA, and CP, respectively. All antimicrobials reduced Salmonella counts in both chicken hearts and livers by more than one log, in contrast to the water control. All treatments effectively minimized the growth of APC for up to 3 days of refrigerated storage, and no differences in objective color values (L, a, or b) were observed. The poultry industry may use these antimicrobials as components of a multifaceted approach to mitigate Salmonella in nonconventional chicken parts.

Understanding the Effects of Adding Metal Oxides to Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid Blends on Mechanical and Rheological Behaviour, Wettability, and Photo-Oxidation Resistance.

Biopolymers are of growing interest, but to improve some of their poor properties and performance, the formulation of bio-based blends and/or adding of nanoparticles is required. For this purpose, in this work, two different metal oxides, namely zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), at different concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2%wt.) were added in polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/polyamide 11 (PLA/PA11) blends to establish their effects on solid-state properties, morphology, melt behaviour, and photo-oxidation resistance. It seems that the addition of ZnO in PLA leads to a significant reduction in its rigidity, probably due to an inefficient dispersion in the melt state, while the addition of TiO2 does not penalize PLA rigidity. Interestingly, the addition of both ZnO and TiO2 in the PLA/PA11 blend has a positive effect on the rigidity because of blend morphology refinement and leads to a slight increase in film hydrophobicity. The photo-oxidation resistance of the neat PLA and PLA/PA11 blend is significantly reduced due to the presence of both metal oxides, and this must be considered when designing potential applications. The last results suggest that both metal oxides could be considered photo-sensitive degradant agents for biopolymer and biopolymer blends.

Evaluation of Temperature-Dependent Boundary Lubrication Behavior of Stearic Acid Using a Force-Controlled Tribometer.

A quick evaluation of the effectiveness of additives is important in lubricant formulation. In this study, we employed a friction-force measurement approach using a newly designed lateral force-controlled tribometer. This tribometer evaluates the lubricant properties under boundary lubrication. In this lateral force-controlled tribometer, the absence of a stiffness-altering sensor enables the modeling of the actual contact conditions without altering the contact stiffness. Indirect friction force measurement ensures precise measurements of friction properties while avoiding common measurement errors encountered in conventional tribometers, such as sensor misalignment and changes in the stiffness of the machine due to the sensor. The tribometer designed and built consists of a pendulum that measures the rate of dissipation of the oscillation amplitude as a function of time. The unique characteristics of the machine are the possibility of changing the energy input into the tribosystem without altering the tribo-contact conditions and the capability to do experiments at higher temperatures. To evaluate the capabilities of this tribometer, the impact of temperature on the frictional properties of a base oil and a blend of base oil and stearic acid (SA) (a prominent Organic Friction Modifier) is investigated. The test result shows that frictional energy dissipation decreases when stearic acid is present in the lubricant. And, as the temperature of the oil increases, the energy dissipation increases for pure base oil but reduces for the blend. The observed frictional trends are attributed to the decrease in the viscosity of the base oil with an increase in the temperature. The decrease in friction for the SA blend is attributed to tribofilm formation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses confirm the presence of the SA tribofilm on the surface. XPS indicates an increase in tribofilm quantity with rising temperatures. The kinetics of film formation and thickness increase with temperature, consequently reducing the friction in the SA blend.