Lipase Activity Research Articles

Enhancing biodegradation efficiency of PLA/PBAT-ST20 bioplastic using thermophilic bacteria co-culture system: New insight from structural characterization, enzyme activity, and metabolic pathways

The rising utilization of PLA/PBAT-ST20 presents potential ecological risks stemming from its casual disposal and incomplete degradation. To solve this problem, this study investigated the degradation capabilities of PLA/PBAT-ST20 by a co-culture system comprising two thermophilic bacteria, Pseudomonas G1 and Kocuria G2, selected and identified from the thermophilic phase of compost. Structural characterization results revealed that the strains colonized the PLA/PBAT-ST20's surface, causing holes and cracks, with an increase in the carbonyl index (CI) and polydispersity index (PDI), indicating oxidative degradation. Enzyme activity results demonstrated that the co-culture system significantly enhanced the secretion and activity of proteases and lipases, promoting the breakdown of ester bonds. LC-QTOF-MS results showed that various intermediate products were obtained after degradation, ultimately participating in the TCA cycle (ko00020), further completely mineralized. Additionally, after 15-day compost, the co-culture system achieved a degradation rate of 72.14 ± 2.1 wt% for PBAT/PLA-ST20 films, with a decrease in the abundance of plastic fragments of all sizes, demonstrating efficient degradation of PLA/PBAT-ST20 films. This study highlights the potential of thermophilic bacteria to address plastic pollution through biodegradation and emphasizes that the co-culture system could serve as an ideal solution for the remediation of PLA/PBAT plastics.

Impact of inoculating Staphylococcus xylosus CICC21445 and Staphylococcus vitulinus CICC10850 on lipid metabolism and flavor development in dry-cured duck

The metabolic activity of microorganisms can influence the characteristics of dry-cured meat. This study aimed to investigate the impact of single or combined inoculation of Staphylococcus vitulinus CICC10850 and Staphylococcus xylosus CICC21445 on the quality of dry-cured duck. The results showed that co-inoculation significantly inhibited the lipid oxidation of dry-cured duck compared to single inoculation S. vitulinus CICC10850 or S. xylosus CICC21445, and the viable cell counts of Staphylococcus were higher (8.3 ± 0.04 log CFU/g, on the 7th day). Co-inoculation significantly increased the activities of neutral lipase (1.68 ± 0.12 U/g) and phospholipase (1.78 ± 0.10 U/g) on the 7th day. The contents of 12 free fatty acids in the dry-cured duck were significantly altered, with notable changes in the levels of C16:0, C18:0, and C18:6n9c. 43 flavor compounds were detected, and the aldehydic flavor compounds were significantly influenced by Staphylococcus inoculation. Compared to the control, co-inoculation led to significant changes in the contents of 333 non-volatile metabolites, 150 of which were lipid-related. KEGG analysis identified 11 differented metabolic pathways, primarily involving amino acid and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, the human-machine interaction evaluation demonstrated that the co-inoculation of S. xylosus CICC21445 and S. vitulinus CICC10850 significantly enhanced the sensory attributes of dry-cured ducks.

Evaluation of four novel non-grain protein sources completely replacing soybean meal on growth performance, serum biochemistry, amino acid transport and intestinal health of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) at different water temperatures

To investigate the effects of non-grain protein source and water temperature on growth and feed utilization differences of grass carp, the effects of different protein sources on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, digestive enzymes, amino acid transport and intestinal health of grass carp were studied at 24 °C, 28 °C and 32 °C. In this study, a total of 1350 grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) (initial weight 5.00 ± 0.02 g) were selected, and Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP), Tenebrio molitor meal (TMM), cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) and Chlorella powder (CHP) were used as a single protein source to completely replace soybean meal for 56 days. The results showed that the final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of grass carp increased significantly with the increasing temperature (P < 0.001). The CHP and SBM groups showed no significant differences in FBW, WGR, SGR and PER (P > 0.05), which were higher than the CAP, TMM and CPC groups (P < 0.001). The alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations of grass carp at 32 °C were significantly lower than those at 24 °C and 28 °C (P < 0.001). The acid phosphatase (ACP) activity decreased significantly with the increase of temperature (P = 0.001). The amylase (AMS) activity of the TMM, CPC and CHP groups was significantly lower than that of the SBM and CAP groups (P < 0.001), and the ACP and lipase (LPS) activities in the TMM group were significantly lower than those in the SBM group (P < 0.001). In addition, the interaction between temperatures and protein sources significantly affected the gene expression levels of amino acid transport including solute carrier family 1 member 3 (SLC1A3), solute carrier family 7 member 1 (SLC7A1), solute carrier family 7 member 5 (SLC7A5), solute carrier family 15 member 1b (SLC15A1b), solute carrier family 7 member 7 (SLC7A7), target of rapamycin (TOR), 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), intestinal inflammatory including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin1, claudin3, claudin7 and claudin11) (P ≤ 0.001). Collectively, our results indicated that CHP could be a potential protein source in the case of complete replacement of soybean meal in grass carp.

Novel extracellular lipase gene Lip1728 influences nutrient-dependent performance bacterial quorum sensing of Burkholderia pyrrocinia WZ10-3

Quorum sensing (QS) is a cellular communication mechanism in which bacteria secrete and recognize signaling molecules to regulate group behavior. Lipases provide energy for bacterial cell growth but it is unknown whether they influence nutrient-dependent QS by hydrolyzing substrate. A high-yield lipase-producing strain, Burkholderia pyrrocinia WZ10–3, was previously identified in our laboratory, but the composition of its crude enzymes was not elucidated. Here, we identified a key extracellular lipase, Lip1728, in WZ10–3, which accounts for 99 % of the extracellular lipase activity. Lip1728 prefers to hydrolyze triglycerides at sn-1,3 positions, with pNP-C16 being its optimal substrate. Lip1728 exhibited activity at pH 5.0–10.0 and regardless of the presence of metal ions. It had strong resistance to sodium dodecyl sulfate and short-chain alcohols and was activated by phenylmethanesulfonylfluoride (PMSF). Lip1728 knockout significantly affected lipid metabolism and biofilm formation in the presence of olive oil. Finally, oleic acid, a hydrolysate of Lip1728, influenced the production of the signal molecule N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) and biofilm formation by downregulating the AHL synthetase gene pyrI. In conclusion, Lip1728, as a key extracellular lipase in B. pyrrocinia WZ10–3, exhibits superior properties that make it suitable for biodiesel production and plays a crucial role in QS.

Very early and early nutrition in children with pancreatitis-A randomised trial.

The aim of our study was to assess the impact of the very early introduction of refeeding on the course of acute pancreatitis (AP) in children. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of nutrition on inflammatory markers, including cytokines. This prospective randomised study was conducted in three university hospitals in Poland. Patients, aged 1-18 years with AP, were randomised into two groups: A-refeeding within 24 h of hospital admission (very early), and B-refeeding at least 24 h after admission (early nutrition). The severity of AP was assessed after 48 h. The serum concentrations of four cytokines (tumour necrosis factor α [TNFα], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], interleukin-6 [IL-6] and interleukin-8 [IL-8]) and C-reactive protein, as well as the activity of amylase, lipase and aminotransferases, were measured during the first 3 days of hospitalisation. A total of 94 children were recruited to participate in the study. The statistical analysis included 75 patients with mild pancreatitis: 42-group A and 33-group B. The two groups did not differ in the length of hospitalisation (p = 0.22), AP symptoms or results of laboratory tests. Analysis of cytokine levels was conducted for 64 children: 38-group A and 26-group B. We did not find a difference in concentrations of the measured cytokines, except for IL-1β on the third day of hospitalisation (p = 0.01). The time of initiation of oral nutrition within 24 h (very early) or after 24 h (early) from the beginning of hospitalisation had no impact on the length of hospitalisation, concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, activity of amylase and lipase or occurrence of symptoms in children with mild AP.

Antidiabetic potentials of crude and purified sulphated polysaccharides isolated from Gracilaria gracilis, a seaweed from South Africa

Over 90 % of all cases of diabetes that have been diagnosed are type 2 diabetes (T2D), a disease exacerbated by an increase in sedentary behaviour, bad eating habits, and obesity. This study investigated the antidiabetic properties of Gracilaria gracilis, using in vitro and ex vivo experimental models. The sulphated polysaccharides (SPs) from crude extracts of the seaweed powder was prepared via hot (100°C) and cold (25°C) aqueous extraction procedures before purification via an anion exchange chromatographic technique. Both the crude and purified extracts were characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), LC-MS analysis, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The crude cold-aqueous and purified hot-aqueous SPs from G. gracilis had the strongest α-glucosidase inhibitory effect with IC50 value of 0.15 and 0.07 mg/ml, respectively. The purified cold-aqueous SP was the most potent inhibitor of α-glucosidase with an IC50 value of 0.17 mg/ml. The crude and purified SP-rich extracts inhibited pancreatic lipase (hot aqueous SP = 0.03 mg/ml) activity and effectively stimulated glucose uptake in yeast cells. Moreover, they showed significantly (p < 0.05) better intestinal glucose absorption inhibitory properties at the highest concentration (1 mg/ml) and displayed significantly (p < 0.05) better muscle glucose uptake compared to the commercial antidiabetic drug, metformin, at the same concentration. Overall, the current findings indicate that G. gracilis SPs may inhibit carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes, limit the release of simple sugars from the gut whilst effectively stimulating the use of glucose by peripheral tissue thus may be suitable to develop antidiabetic food supplements after further animal and clinical trials.

Effects of cadmium on the growth, muscle composition, digestion, gene expression of antioxidant and lipid metabolism in juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Cadmium could induce various degrees of harm to aquatic organisms. A 30-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of cadmium on growth, muscle composition, digestive enzyme activity, gene expression of antioxidants and lipid metabolism in juvenile genetic improvement of farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus, Initial weight: 21.36 ± 0.24 g). Four cadmium concentrations of aquaculture water were designed: 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/L Cd2+. The main results are as follows: Compared with the control group (0 mg/L Cd2+), the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), daily growth index (DGI), and spleen index (SI) of juvenile GIFT under cadmium stress were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The contents of crude protein and crude lipid in muscle were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05), and the ash was significantly increased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The activities of trypsin, lipase, and α-amylase in the intestinal were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The relative expression levels of carnitine palmityl transferase 1 (cpt-1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (pparα), pparγ, hormone-sensitive lipase (hsl), lipoprotein lipase (lpl), malate dehydrogenase (mdh), leptin (lep), fatty acid synthetase (fas), cholesterol response element binding protein 1 (srebp1), squalene cyclooxygenase (sqle), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (scd) genes in liver were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The relative expression levels of catalase (cat), superoxide dismutase (sod), glutathione S-transferase (gst), and glutathione peroxidase (gsh-px) genes in the liver were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to cadmium stress could impact growth, muscle composition, digestive enzyme activity, gene expression of antioxidant and lipid metabolism in juvenile GIFT.

SCD4 deficiency decreases cardiac steatosis and prevents cardiac remodeling in mice fed a high-fat diet

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is a lipogenic enzyme that catalyzes formation of the first double bond in the carbon chain of saturated fatty acids. Four isoforms of SCD have been identified in mice, the most poorly characterized of which is SCD4, which is cardiac-specific. In the present study, we investigated the role of SCD4 in systemic and cardiac metabolism. We used WT and global SCD4 KO mice that were fed standard laboratory chow or a high-fat diet (HFD). SCD4 deficiency reduced body adiposity and decreased hyperinsulinemia and hypercholesterolemia in HFD-fed mice. The loss of SCD4 preserved heart morphology in the HFD condition. Lipid accumulation decreased in the myocardium in SCD4-deficient mice and in HL-1 cardiomyocytes with knocked out Scd4 expression. This was associated with an increase in the rate of lipolysis and, more specifically, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) activity. Possible mechanisms of ATGL activation by SCD4 deficiency include lower protein levels of the ATGL inhibitor G0/G1 switch protein 2 and greater activation by protein kinase A under lipid overload conditions. Moreover, we observed higher intracellular Ca2+ levels in HL-1 cells with silenced Scd4 expression. This may explain the activation of protein kinase A in response to higher Ca2+ levels. Additionally, the loss of SCD4 inhibited mitochondrial enlargement, NADH overactivation, and reactive oxygen species overproduction in the heart in HFD-fed mice. In conclusion, SCD4 deficiency activated lipolysis, resulting in a reduction of cardiac steatosis, prevented the induction of left ventricular hypertrophy, and reduced reactive oxygen species levels in the heart in HFD-fed mice.

Seasonal Dynamics of Culturable Yeasts in Ornithogenically Influenced Soils in a Temperate Forest and Evaluation of Extracellular Enzyme Secretion in Tausonia pullulans at Different Temperatures.

The culturable yeast communities in temperate forest soils under the ornithogenic influence were studied in a seasonal dynamic. To investigate the intense ornithogenic influence, conventional and "live" feeders were used, which were attached to trees in the forest and constantly replenished throughout the year. It was found that the yeast abundance in the soil under strong ornithogenic influence reached the highest values in winter compared to the other seasons and amounted to 4.8 lg (cfu/g). This was almost an order of magnitude higher than the minimum value of yeast abundance in ornithogenic soils determined for summer. A total of 44 yeast species, 21 ascomycetes and 23 basidiomycetes, were detected in ornithogenic soil samples during the year. These included soil-related species (Barnettozyma californica, Cyberlindnera misumaiensis, Cutaneotrichosporon moniliiforme, Goffeauzyma gastrica, Holtermanniella festucosa, Leucosporidium creatinivorum, L. yakuticum, Naganishia adeliensis, N. albidosimilis, N. globosa, Tausonia pullulans, and Vanrija albida), eurybionts (yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans, Debaryomyces hansenii, and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa), inhabitants of plant substrates and litter (Cystofilobasidium capitatum, Cys. infirmominiatum, Cys. macerans, Filobasidium magnum, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, and Rh. babjevae) as well as a group of pathogenic and opportunistic yeast species (Arxiozyma bovina, Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Clavispora lusitaniae, and Nakaseomyces glabratus). Under an ornithogenic influence, the diversity of soil yeasts was higher compared to the control, confirming the uneven distribution of yeasts in temperate forest soils and their dependence on natural hosts and vectors. Interestingly, the absolute dominant species in ornithogenic soils in winter (when the topsoil temperature was below zero) was the basidiomycetous psychrotolerant yeast T. pullulans. It is regularly observed in various soils in different geographical regions. Screening of the hydrolytic activity of 50 strains of this species at different temperatures (2, 4, 10, 15 and 20 °C) showed that the activity of esterases, lipases and proteases was significantly higher at the cultivation temperature. Ornithogenic soils could be a source for the relatively easy isolation of a large number of strains of the psychrotolerant yeast T. pullulans to test, study and optimize their potential for the production of cold-adapted enzymes for industry.

Efficiently Substituting Dietary Fish Meal with Terrestrial Compound Protein Enhances Growth, Health, and Protein Synthesis in Largemouth Bass.

Inappropriate substitution of dietary fishmeal (FM) can adversely affect the growth, health, and metabolism of carnivorous fish species. To effectively reduce the amount of dietary FM in carnivorous largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a terrestrial compound protein (Cpro) with chicken meal, bone meal, and black soldier fly protein was used to formulate four isoproteic (52%) and isolipidic (12%) diets, namely T1 (36% FM), T2 (30% FM), T3 (24% FM), and T4 (18% FM), for feeding juveniles (initial weight: ~12 g) for 81 days. Results indicated that the growth performance, feed efficiency, and morphological indicators, as well as muscle texture and edible quality of fish, did not differ significantly among the four groups. However, the muscle protein contents and ATP/AMP ratio of fish in the T4 group were significantly increased in comparison with those of fish in the T1 group, while the opposite was true for muscle glycogen. Compared with the T1 group, high serum total amino acid and MDA contents, as well as low AST activities, were observed in the T3 and T4 groups, and relatively high intestinal trypsin and lipase activities were found in the T2-T4 groups. The transcripts of intestinal proinflammatory cytokines (il-1β, il-6, and tnf-α) were downregulated in the T2-T4 groups compared with T1 group, while the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (il-10) and tight junction (zo-1 and occludin) showed the reverse trend. The mRNA expression of positive regulators related to protein synthesis (sirt1, pgc1-α, pi3k, and akt) were significantly upregulated in the muscle of fish fed diets T3 and T4, while their negative regulators (4e-bp1) mRNA levels were downregulated. The results indicate that the dietary FM of largemouth bass could be effectively reduced to at least 18% by the Cpro, which is beneficial to health, digestion, and protein synthesis for maintaining accelerated growth.

Effects of Incubation Light on Behaviour, Growth Performance, Blood Parameters, and Digestive Enzymes in Post-Hatch Layer Chicks.

Manipulation of light during incubation may have an effect on post-hatch chicks through the role of prenatal stage. The effects of providing different wavelengths of light (white, blue, and green lights, dark as control) during incubation on the growth performance, organ development, immune response, stress related hormones, digestive enzymes and behaviour of post-hatch chicks were investigated for 1-42 days. A total of 60 chicks per light treatment in three batches were used in this study. The results showed that the percentage of chicks accessing to feed and water resources appeared not to be affected by incubation light. Chicks hatched under white light were found to have a growth advantage (p < 0.05). The weight of organs (except thymus), IgA, IgY, IgM and heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio for post-hatch chicks were not affected by incubation light (p > 0.05). Thymus weight was reduced in chicks incubated under blue light compared to dark incubation (p < 0.05). The jejunum amylase and ileum lipase activities were significantly affected by the light treatments (p < 0.01). All light incubation chicks had stable plasma corticosterone levels and may have better ability to cope with environmental changes. Hence, white light photoperiod incubation may have potential to improve post-hatch chicks' growth performance and environmental adaptability.

Mitigating Effects of Tanacetum balsamita L. on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD).

The metabolic syndrome and its associated co-morbidities have been recognized as predisposing risk factors for the development of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). The present study reports on the beneficial effect of the Tanacetum balsamita methanol-aqueous extract (ETB) at 150 and 300 mg/kg bw on biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress, metabolic syndrome, and liver function in rat animal models with induced MAFLD. ETB was found to be non-toxic with LD50 > 3000 mg/kg and did not affect cell viability of hepatic HEP-G2 cells in a concentration up to 800 μg/mL. The pathology was established by a high-calorie diet and streptozotocin. Acarbose and atorvastatin were used as positive controls. At the higher dose, ETB reduced significantly (p < 0.05) the blood glucose levels by about 20%, decreased lipase activity by 52%, total cholesterol and triglycerides by 50% and 57%, respectively, and restored the amylase activity and leukocytes compared to the MAFLD group. ETB ameliorated oxidative stress biomarkers reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde in a dose-dependent manner. At 300 mg/kg, the beneficial effect of the extract on antioxidant enzymes was evidenced by the elevated catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activity by 70%, 29%, and 44%, accordingly, compared to the MAFLD rats. ETB prevents the histopathological changes related to MAFLD. ETB, rich in 3,5-dicafeoylquinic, chlorogenic, and rosmarinic acids together with the isorhamnetin- and luteolin-glucoside provides a prominent amelioration of MAFLD.

Cholesterol-rich lysosomes induced by respiratory syncytial virus promote viral replication by blocking autophagy flux

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hijacks cholesterol or autophagy pathways to facilitate optimal replication. However, our understanding of the associated molecular mechanisms remains limited. Here, we show that RSV infection blocks cholesterol transport from lysosomes to the endoplasmic reticulum by downregulating the activity of lysosomal acid lipase, activates the SREBP2–LDLR axis, and promotes uptake and accumulation of exogenous cholesterol in lysosomes. High cholesterol levels impair the VAP-A-binding activity of ORP1L and promote the recruitment of dynein–dynactin, PLEKHM1, or HOPS VPS39 to Rab7–RILP, thereby facilitating minus-end transport of autophagosomes and autolysosome formation. Acidification inhibition and dysfunction of cholesterol-rich lysosomes impair autophagy flux by inhibiting autolysosome degradation, which promotes the accumulation of RSV fusion protein. RSV-F storage is nearly abolished after cholesterol depletion or knockdown of LDLR. Most importantly, the knockout of LDLR effectively inhibits RSV infection in vivo. These findings elucidate the molecular mechanism of how RSV co-regulates lysosomal cholesterol reprogramming and autophagy and reveal LDLR as a novel target for anti-RSV drug development.

Novel nanoparticle composed by Ovalbumin-OSA modified pectin-rutin for improving the stability of Monascus pigments

To improve the resistance of Monascus pigments (MPs) to adverse environmental factors, a nanoparticle carrier was constructed using ovalbumin, rutin and pectin modified by octenyl succinic anhydride. According to the determination of particle size, ζ-potential and microstructure, the composite nanoparticles exhibited the "core-shell" structure. Specifically, the ovalbumin core was encapsulated by the modified pectin adsorbed with rutin. Spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between wall materials and MPs were the main driving forces to form composite nanoparticles. The stabilities of light, thermal and storage of MPs were significantly enhanced after encapsulation due to the physical barrier effect of the wall materials against external disturbances and the multiple functions of rutin, including free radical scavenging, absorption of partial UV and scatter light, and possible co-pigmentation effects with MPs. Moreover, the composite nanoparticles exhibited higher inhibition activity against pancreatic lipase and antioxidant activity compared with those of free MPs. The results provided an ideal way to develop new MPs products, which had long-lasting and stable performance during food processing and storage.

Effects of coated Enterococcus faecium on the growth performance, immunity, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphometry, and microbiota of crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of double-layer-coated Enterococcus faecium on the growth performance, liver biochemical indices, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphometry, immunity gene expression, and microbiota of crucian carps (Carassius auratus gibelio). A total of 320 fish (mean weight 11.0 ± 0.04 g) were randomly distributed into 3 treatment groups of 4 replicates per treatment (20 fish/replicate). Three different experimental diets were designed: dietary C without double-layer-coated E. faecalis, dietary LP supplemented with 1.0 × 107 CFU/g, and dietary HP supplemented with 1.0 × 108 CFU/g double-layer-coated E. faecalis. The fish was fed for 70 days with different diets, followed by a challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed that the weight gain and specific growth rate increased and the feed conversion rate decreased in the dietary HP (P < 0.05). The dietary LP had higher lipase and protease activities, and amylase activity increased in the dietary LP and HP after the LPS challenge (P < 0.05). The dietary HP had higher villi height (VH), thicker muscular thickness (MT), and higher VH/MT (VCR) in the intestine (P < 0.05). The intestines were damaged by the LPS challenge; the damage to the dietary HP was alleviated, showing a higher VH, thicker MT, and higher VCR (P < 0.05). The glutathione peroxidase activity of the liver was increased in the dietary HP (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in liver antioxidant capacity with the LPS challenge among all diets. There was no significant difference in the expression level of the Occludin and Claudin-12 genes among all diets that was up-regulated in dietary HP after LPS challenge (P < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing revealed that the supplementation of double-layer-coated E. faecium increased the species diversity of the intestinal. In conclusion, double-layer-coated E. faecium can improve the absorption of nutrients, enhance immunity, maintain balance in the intestine microbiota, and promote the growth of crucian carp. The supplementation of double-layer-coated E. faecium in the diet can alleviate the intestinal damage caused by LPS challenge.

Antidiabetic Potential of Abelmoschus manihot Flower Extract: In Vitro and Intracellular Studies.

Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic flower (AMf) exhibits both nutritional value and bioactivities such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. The aim of this investigation was to examine the potential impact of three different solvent extracts of AMf: supercritical CO2 extraction extract, water extract, and ethanol extract (AME), on management of diabetes. All three extracts demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase (IC50 = 157-261 μg/mL) and lipase (IC50 = 401-577 μg/mL) activities while enhancing the α-amylase activity (32.4-41.8 folds at 200 μg/mL). Moreover, all three extracts exhibited notable inhibition of the formation of advanced glycation end-products, including the Amadori products (inhibition rates = 15.7-36.6%) and the dicarbonyl compounds (inhibition rates = 18.6-28.3%). Among the three extracts, AME exhibited the most pronounced inhibitory effect. AME displayed substantial in vitro and intracellular antioxidative activity, and effectively reduced ROS production (135% at 500 μg/mL) in β-cells under hyperglycemic (HG) conditions. AME also enhanced the activity and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, which were markedly decreased in the HG-induced β-cells. Furthermore, AME protected β-cell viability and maintained normal insulin secretion under HG conditions, likely due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress within β-cells. This study demonstrated the potential of AME in preventing and managing diabetes and its associated complications. Further in vivo research is necessary to thoroughly elucidate the preventive effects and their underlying mechanisms.

Efficient expression of OUC-Sb-lip2 in Yarrowia lipolytica and its comprehensive utilization in the enrichment of DHA and EPA from fish oil

Lipases are widely used in the modification of functional lipids, particularly in the enrichment of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In this study, a lipase named OUC-Sb-lip2 was expressed in Yarrowia lipolytica, achieving a promising enzyme activity of 472.6 U/mL by optimizing the culture medium, notably through olive oil supplementation. A significant proportion (58.8%) of the lipase activity was located in the cells, whereas 41.2% was secreted into the supernatant. Both whole-cell and immobilized OUC-Sb-lip2 were used to enrich DHA and EPA from fish oil. The whole-cell approach increased the DHA and EPA contents to 2.59 and 2.55 times that of the original oil, respectively. Similarly, the immobilized OUC-Sb-lip2 resulted in a 2.00-fold increase in DHA and an 1.99-fold increase in EPA after a 6-h hydrolysis period. Whole cell and the immobilized OUC-Sb-lip2 retained 48.7% and 52.7% of their activity after six cycles of reuse, respectively.

Black soldier fly larvae efficiently bioconvert the organic fraction of municipal solid waste thanks to the functional plasticity of their midgut

Abstract The saprophagous larvae of Hermetia illucens show promising potential as effective agents for bioconverting organic waste and by-products into valuable biomass. Their capability to efficiently transform organic substrates, varying in nutrient content, origin, texture, and moisture, is strictly correlated with the morphofunctional complexity of their digestive system and the associated microbiota. In addition, post-ingestion mechanisms are set in motion to regulate the midgut activity depending on the feeding substrate, thus ensuring the nutritional requirements of the larvae. This study aims to assess the capability of H. illucens larvae to grow and biotransform the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). In particular, the larvae were reared on substrates mimicking the OFMSW with different nutrient content, and their growth and bioconversion performance, as well as the quality of larval and pupal biomass were evaluated. Our results demonstrate that the nutritional composition of the rearing substrates had minimal impact on the efficiency of the bioconversion process and on the protein, lipid, and chitin content of the insect biomass. This was due to a fine transcriptional regulation of genes encoding enzymes involved in protein, polysaccharide, and lipid digestion in midgut cells. As a consequence, larvae reared on OFMSW with the lowest protein, starch, and lipid content exhibited a significant increase in protease, amylase, and lipase activities. Overall, this study highlights the value of H. illucens larvae in valorising the OFMSW, demonstrating that variations in its composition do not significantly affect the quality of the bioconversion process. These findings hold significant practical implications as current strategies for OFMSW treatment remain unsatisfactory and innovative approaches are needed to enhance bio-waste recycling and reduce the environmental impact of waste management.

Arecoline inhibits the growth of Spodoptera litura by inducing intestinal metabolic dysfunction

Arecoline (ACL), an active constituent derived from Areca catechu L., exerts various pharmacological effects and serves as a potential plant-based insecticide. However, the effects of ACL on Spodoptera litura, an important and widely distributed agricultural pest, remain unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying ACL-induced toxicity and its inhibitory effects on larval growth and development through intestinal pathology observations, intestinal transcriptome sequencing, intestinal digestive enzyme activity analysis. The results indicated that ACL exposure leads to pathological alterations in the S. litura midgut. Furthermore, the detection of digestive enzyme activity revealed that ACL inhibits the activities of acetyl CoA carboxylase, lipase, α-amylase, and trypsin. Simultaneously, upregulation of superoxide dismutase activity and downregulation of malondialdehyde levels were observed after ACL exposure. Transcriptome analysis identified 1118 genes that were significantly differentially expressed in the midgut after ACL exposure, potentially related to ACL toxic effects. Notably, ACL treatment downregulated key enzymes involved in lipid metabolism, such as fatty acid binding protein 2-like, pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase-like, pancreatic lipid-related protein 2-like, and fatty acid binding protein 1-like. Taken together, these results suggest that ACL induces midgut damage and impedes larval growth by suppressing digestive enzyme activity in the intestine. These findings can aid in the development of environmentally friendly plant-derived insecticides, utilizing ACL to effectively combat S. litura proliferation.

Effects of Mixed Organic Acids and Essential Oils in Drinking Water on Growth Performance, Intestinal Digestive Capacity, and Immune Status in Broiler Chickens.

In order to evaluate the effects of acidifiers and essential oils in drinking water on growth, intestinal digestive capacity, and immune status in broilers, a total of 480, 1-day-old Arbore Acres broilers were randomly assigned to four treatments including normal tap water (Ctr) and tap water supplemented with acidifier I (ACI), acidifier I and essential oils (ACI+EO), and acidifier II (ACII). Both ACI+EO and ACII increased final body weight. The pH value of the crop and gizzards was reduced by ACI+EO, and ACII decreased the pH values of the proventriculus and gizzards (p < 0.05). Compared with control group, ACI, ACI+EO, ACII significantly enhanced lipase activity in jejunum but ACII decreased the level of serum total cholesterol and total triglyceride (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, ACI+EO and ACII significantly increased the relative weight of the spleen, increased the level of serum IgA and IgM, and decreased E. coli in excreta, while ACII significantly decreased Salmonella in excreta (p <0.05). All treatments significantly increased Lactobacillus in excreta. In conclusion, ACI+EO improved immune status and ACII was effective in reducing Salmonella and promoting Lactobacillus, contributing to intestinal health.