Imported Pet Reptiles and Their "Blind Passengers"-In-Depth Characterization of 80 Acinetobacter Species Isolates.

Reptiles are popular pet animals and important food sources, but the trade of this vertebrate class is-besides welfare and conservation-under debate due to zoonotic microbiota. Ninety-two shipments of live reptiles were sampled during border inspections at Europe's most relevant transshipment point for the live animal trade. Acinetobacter spp. represented one significant fraction of potentially MDR bacteria that were further analyzed following non-selective isolation or selective enrichment from feces, urinate, or skin samples. Taxonomic positions of respective isolates were confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS and whole-genome sequencing analysis (GBDP, dDDH, ANIb, and rMLST). The majority of the 80 isolates represented established species; however, a proportion of potentially novel taxa was found. Antimicrobial properties and genome-resistance gene screening revealed novel and existing resistance mechanisms. Acinetobacter spp. strains were most often resistant to 6-10 substance groups (n = 63) in vitro. Resistance to fluorchinolones (n = 4) and colistin (n = 7), but not to carbapenems, was noted, and novel oxacillinase variants (n = 39) were detected among other genes. Phylogenetic analysis (MLST) assigned few isolates to the known STs (25, 46, 49, 220, and 249) and to a number of novel STs. No correlation was found to indicate that MDR Acinetobacter spp. in reptiles were associated with harvesting mode, e.g., captive-bred, wild-caught, or farmed in natural ecosystems. The community of Acinetobacter spp. in healthy reptiles turned out to be highly variable, with many isolates displaying a MDR phenotype or genotype.

Inhibition of Low-Grade Inflammation by Anthocyanins after Microbial Fermentation in Vitro.

The anti-inflammatory effects of anthocyanins (ACNs) on vascular functions are discussed controversially because of their low bioavailability. This study was performed to determine whether microorganism (MO)-fermented ACNs influence vascular inflammation in vitro. Therefore, MO growth media were supplemented with an ACN-rich grape/berry extract and growth responses of Escherichia coli, E. faecalis and H. alvei, as well as ACN fermentation were observed. MO supernatants were used for measuring the anti-inflammatory effect of MO-fermented ACNs in an epithelial-endothelial co-culture transwell system. After basolateral enrichment (240 min), endothelial cells were stimulated immediately or after 20 h with TNF-α. Afterwards, leukocyte adhesion, expression of adhesion molecules and cytokine release were measured. Results indicate that E. coli, E. faecalis and H. alvei utilized ACNs differentially concomitant with different anti-inflammatory effects. Whereas E. coli utilized ACNs completely, no anti-inflammatory effects of fermented ACNs were observed on activated endothelial cells. In contrast, ACN metabolites generated by E. faecalis and H. alvei significantly attenuated low-grade stimulated leukocyte adhesion, the expression of adhesion molecules E-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and cytokine secretion (IL-8 and IL-6), as well as NF-κB mRNA expression with a more pronounced effect of E. faecalis than H. alvei. Thus, MO-fermented ACNs have the potential to reduce inflammation.

Uptake and bioavailability of anthocyanins and phenolic acids from grape/blueberry juice and smoothie in vitro and in vivo.

The goal of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day has not yet been achieved. The intake of polyphenols such as anthocyanins (ACN) could be improved by consuming smoothies and juices that are increasingly popular, especially in children; however, bioavailability data concerning food matrix effects are scarce. Thus, we conducted a randomised, cross-over, bioavailability study (n 10) to determine the bioavailability of ACN and their metabolites from an ACN-rich grape/blueberry juice (841 mg ACN/litre) and smoothie (983 mg ACN/litre) in vivo, and the uptake of a corresponding grape/blueberry extract in vitro. After the intake of beverage (0·33 litres), plasma and fractionated urine samples were collected and analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to MS. The most abundant ACN found in plasma and urine were malvidin and peonidin as native ACN and as glucuronidated metabolites as well as 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB); minor ACN (delphinidin, cyanidin and petunidin) were only detected as native glycosides. Plasma pharmacokinetics and recoveries of urinary metabolites of ACN were not different for juice or smoothie intake; however, the phenolic acid 3,4-DHB was significantly better bioavailable from juice in comparison to smoothie. In vitro data with absorptive intestinal cells indicated that despite their weak chemical stability, ACN and 3,4-DHB could be detected at the basal side in their native forms. Whether smoothies as well as juices should be recommended to increase the intake of potentially health-promoting ACN and other polyphenols requires the consideration of other ingredients such as their relatively high sugar content.

Anthocyanin-rich juice does not affect gut-associated immunity in Fischer rats.

SCOPE: Most studies on immunomodulatory effects of anthocyanins are concentrated on their anti-inflammatory potential. In vitro studies suggest that anthocyanins possess anti-inflammatory potential, but results from in vivo studies are rare and inconclusive. Sparse information is available about the immune tissues that are affected by anthocyanins. As systemic bioavailability of anthocyanins is rather low, predominantly luminal anthocyanins could influence the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Therefore, the present study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of an anthocyanin-rich grape-bilberry juice (ARJ) on the systemic immune system, GALT, and mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT). METHODS AND RESULTS: Fischer rats (n = 24/group) received ARJ or anthocyanin-depleted grape-bilberry juice (control) for 10 wk. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood, spleen, Peyer's Patches, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Anthocyanin intake was 15 mg/day and concentrations were determined in plasma and intestinal tract. Number of T and natural killer cells, natural killer cell activity, cytokine secretion from lymphocytes (IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) and MAT (IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1), inflammation markers in serum (sICAM, IFN-γ, and MCP-1), and activation status of NF-κB were not influenced by ARJ. CONCLUSION: This in vivo study suggests that anthocyanins at physiological doses affect neither the systemic immune system, nor GALT, or MAT in healthy, unchallenged rats.

Rotational dependence of the proton-transfer reaction HBr+ + CO2 → HOCO+ + Br. II. Comparison of HBr+ (2Π(3/2)) and HBr+ (2Π(1/2)).

The effects of reactant ion rotational excitation on the exothermic proton-transfer reactions of HBr(+)((2)Π(1/2)) and DBr(+)((2)Π(1/2)), respectively, with CO(2) were studied in a guided ion beam apparatus. Cross sections are presented for collision energies in the center of mass system E(c.m.) in the range of 0.23 to 1.90 eV. The HBr(+)/DBr(+) ions were prepared in a state-selective manner by resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization. The mean rotational energy was varied from 3.4 to 46.8 meV for HBr(+)((2)Π(1/2)) and from 1.8 to 40.9 meV for DBr(+)((2)Π(1/2)). Both reactions studied are inhibited by collision energy, as expected for exothermic reactions. For all collision energies considered, the cross section decreases with increasing rotational energy of the ion, but the degree of the rotational dependence differs depending on the collision energy. For E(c.m.) = 0.31 eV, the cross sections of the deuteron transfer are significantly larger than those of the proton transfer. For higher E(c.m.) they differ very little. The current results for the exothermic proton transfer are systematically compared to previously published data for the endothermic proton transfer starting from HBr(+)((2)Π(3/2)) [L. Paetow et al., J. Chem. Phys. 132, 174305 (2010)]. Additional new data regarding the latter reaction are presented to further confirm the conclusions. The dependences on rotational excitation found cannot be explained by the corresponding change in the total energy of the system. For both the endothermic and the exothermic reaction, the cross section is maximized for the smallest rotational energy, at least well above the threshold.

Rotational dependence of the proton-transfer reaction HBr+ + CO2-->HOCO+ + Br. I. Energy versus angular momentum effects.

Cross sections for the endothermic proton-transfer reactions of rotationally state-selected HBr(+) and DBr(+) ions with CO(2) were measured in a guided ion beam apparatus in order to determine the influence of rotational excitation and collision energy in the center of mass (c.m.) system on the cross section. Ab initio calculations were performed to obtain energetic information about reactants, intermediates, and products. In the experiment HBr(+) and DBr(+) ions were prepared with the same mean rotational quantum number but different mean rotational energies as the rotational constants differ by about a factor of two. The mean rotational energy was varied from 1.4 to 66.3 meV for HBr(+) and from 0.7 to 43.0 meV for DBr(+). Collision energies (E(c.m.)) ranged from 0.32 to 1.00 eV. Under all conditions considered, an increase in the rotational excitation leads to a decrease in the cross section for both reactions. However, the effect is more pronounced for the higher collision energies. For E(c.m.)=1.00 and 0.85 eV; a comparison between the results for HBr(+) and DBr(+) indicates that the cross section is dominated by effects of rotational energy rather than angular momentum. For lower collision energies the cross sections for the deuteron transfer and the proton transfer are in best agreement if not compared for the same c.m. collision energy but for the same value of the difference between the collision energy and the reaction enthalpy.