Cohesive phycoremediation of pyrene by freshwater microalgae Selenastrum sp. and biodiesel production and its assessment.

In this study, the freshwater microalgae Selenastrum sp. was assessed for the effective degradation of pyrene and simultaneous production of biodiesel from pyrene-tolerant biomass. The growth of algae was determined based on the cell dry weight, cell density, chlorophyll content, and biomass productivity under different pyrene concentrations. Further, lipids from pyrene tolerant culture were converted into biodiesel by acid-catalyzed transesterification, which was characterized for the total fatty acid profile by gas chromatography. Increased pyrene concentration revealed less biomass yield and productivity after 20 days of treatment, indicating potent pyrene biodegradation by Selenastrum sp. Biomass yield was unaffected till the 20 mg/L pyrene. A 95% of pyrene bioremediation was observed at 20 days of culturing. Lipid accumulation of 22.14%, as evident from the estimation of the total lipid content, indicated a marginal increase in corroborating pyrene stress in the culture. Fatty acid methyl esters yield of 63.06% (% per 100 g lipids) was noticed from the pyrene tolerant culture. Moreover, fatty acid profile analysis of biodiesel produced under 10 mg/L and 20 mg/L pyrene condition showed escalated levels of desirable fatty acids in Selenastrum sp., compared to the control. Further, Selenastrum sp. and other freshwater microalgae are catalogued for sustainable development goals attainment by 2030, as per the UNSDG (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) agenda. Critical applications for the Selenastrum sp. in bioremediation of pyrene, along with biodiesel production, are enumerated for sustainable and renewable energy production and resource management.

Harnessing black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) prepupae against Aeromonas hydrophila: Fermentation-based fatty acids production and its bioinformatic assessment.

Background: Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila) is a bacterium with zoonotic potential and is multidrug-resistant. It utilizes hemolysin and aerolysin to spread infection. Black soldier flies (BSFs) can be antibacterial because of the fatty acids it contains. Aims: This study aimed to investigate and compare the fatty acid profiles of BSF prepupae grown in fermented and nonfermented media using bioinformatics tools and assess their potential as antibacterial agents against A. hydrophila. Methods: The study used BSF prepupae reared on various organic substrates. BSF prepupae grown in fermented or nonfermented substrate were observed against fatty acid. The fatty acid analysis was performed using GC-MS. Fatty acids were analyzed statistically using the one-way ANOVA test with a 95% confidence level. Fatty acid bioactivity was predicted using the online PASS-two-way drug program. Molecular docking on BSF fatty acid compounds was analyzed with PyMol 2.2 and discovery Studio version 21.1.1. Results: The molecular docking test showed the strongest bond was oleic acid with aerolysin and linoleic acid with hemolysin. BSF prepupae grown on fermented media showed higher crude fat and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) but lower unsaturated fatty acids than nonfermented media. Conclusion: Black soldier fly prepupae, particularly those grown on fermented media, possess antibacterial activity against A. hydrophila through potential fatty acid-mediated inhibition of crucial virulence factors.

In Vitro Assessment of Ozone-Treated Deoxynivalenol by Measuring Cytotoxicity and Wheat Quality.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a trichothecene mycotoxin, could lead to cytotoxicity in both animal bodies and plant seed cells. Ozone degradation technology has been applied to DON control. However, the safety and quality of the contaminated grain after DON degradation are largely obscured. In this work, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of ozone-treated DON through seed germination experiments and cytotoxicity tests. Cell experiments showed that the inhibition rate of HepG2 viability gradually increased within the concentrations of 1-10 mg/L of DON, alongside which an IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) of 9.1 mg/L was determined. In contrast, degrading DON had no significant inhibitory effect on cell growth. Moreover, a 1-10 mg/L concentration of DON increased production of a large amount of reactive oxygen radicals in HepG2, with obvious fluorescence color development. However, fluorescence intensity decreased after DON degradation. Further, DON at a concentration of >1 mg/L significantly inhibited the germination of mung bean seeds, whereas no significant inhibition of their germination or growth were observed if DON degraded. Changes in total protein content, fatty acid value, and starch content were insignificant in wheat samples suffering ozone degradation, compared to the untreated group. Lastly, the ozone-treated wheat samples exhibited higher tenacity and whiteness. Together, our study indicated that the toxicity of DON-contaminated wheat was significantly reduced after ozone degradation.

Assessment of endocrine disruptor impacts on lipid metabolism in a fatty acid-supplemented HepaRG human hepatic cell line.

The incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing worldwide. This disease encompasses several stages, from steatosis to steatohepatitis and, eventually, to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Exposure to environmental contaminants is one of the risk factors and an increasing amount of evidence points to a role for endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). This study assesses the impact of selected EDCs on the formation of lipid droplets, the marker for steatosis in a hepatic model. The mechanisms underlying this effect are then explored. Ten compounds were selected according to their obesogenic properties: bisphenol A, F and S, butyl-paraben, cadmium chloride, p,p'-DDE, DBP, DEHP, PFOA and PFOS. Using a 2D or 3D model, HepaRG cells were exposed to the compounds with or without fatty acid supplementation. Then, the formation of lipid droplets was quantified by an automated fluorescence-based method. The expression of genes and proteins involved in lipid metabolism and the impact on cellular respiration was analyzed. The formation of lipid droplets, which is revealed or enhanced by oleic acid supplementation, was most effectively induced by p,p'-DDE and DEHP. Experiments employing either 2D or 3D culture conditions gave similar results. Both compounds induced the expression of PLIN2. p,p'-DDE also appears to act by decreasing in fatty acid oxidation. Some EDCs were able to induce the formation of lipid droplets, in HepaRG cells, an effect which was increased after supplementation of the cells with oleic acid. A full understanding of the mechanisms of these effects will require further investigation. The novel automated detection method described here may also be useful in the future as a regulatory test for EDC risk assessment.

Engineering Escherichia coli for cost-effective production of medium-chain fatty acids from soy whey using an optimized galactose-based autoinduction system.

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are essential chemical feedstocks. Microbial production of MCFAs offers an attractive alternative to conventional methods, but the costly media and external inducers limit its practical application. To address this issue and make MCFA production more cost-effective, an E.coli platform was developed using soy whey as a medium and galactose as an autoinducer. We first designed an efficient, stringent, homogeneous, and robust galactose-based autoinduction system for the expression of pathway enzymes by rationally engineering the promoter of the galactose-proton symporter (GalP). Subsequently, the intracellular acetyl-CoA availability and NADH regeneration were enhanced to improve the reversal of the ß-oxidation cycle. The resulting strain yielded 8.20 g/L and 16.42 g/L MCFA in pH-controlled batch fermentation and fed-batch fermentation with glucose added using soy whey as medium, respectively. This study provided a cost-effective and promising platform for MCFA production, as well as future strain development for other value-added chemicals production.

Growth performance, gut microbiota composition, health and welfare of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed an environmentally and economically sustainable low marine protein diet in sea cages.

The large use of fish meal/fish oil in carnivorous fish feeds is the main concern regarding environmental sustainability of aquaculture. Here, we evaluated the effects of an innovative diet, designed to be (1) environmentally sustainable by lowering the marine protein content while being (2) cost effective by using sustainable alternative raw materials with acceptable cost and produced on an industrial scale, on growth performance, gut microbiota composition, health and welfare of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a key species of the Mediterranean marine aquaculture, reared in sea cages. Results show that the specific growth rate of fish fed the low marine protein diet was significantly lower than those fed conventional diet (0.67% vs 0.69%). Fatty acid profile of fillets from fish fed a low marine protein diet presented significant lower n-6 and higher n-3 content when compared to conventional ones. Then, a significant increase in the abundance of Vibrio and reduction of Photobacterium were found in the gut of fish fed with the low marine protein diet but effects on sea bass health needs further investigation. Finally, no major health and welfare alterations for fish fed the low marine protein diet were observed, combined with a potential slight benefit related to humoral immunity. Overall, these results suggest that despite the low marine protein diet moderately affects growth performance, it nevertheless may enhance environmental and economic sustainability of the sea bass aquaculture.

In vitro assessment of ruminal biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in diets with different types and levels of protected fat and diverse sources of fibre.

The objective was to assess the in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics, methane production, and biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids of diets with two protected fat (PF) sources from soybean or linseed oil, two levels of PF (0 and 6%) and two forage sources (canola silage (CS) or alfalfa hay (AH)) in a factorial 2x2x2 completely randomised design. Only fatty acids content at final incubation was affected (P<0.05) by triple interaction, where C18:2 was highest with AH plus 6% soybean PF (4.41mg/g DM), while C18:3 was with CS plus 6% linseed oil protected (1.98mg/g DM). C18:2 cis-9 trans-11 had high concentration (308 mg/g DM; P<0.05) with AH plus 6% PF regardless PF type, and C18:1 trans-11 was higher with 6% PF than without PF (13.41 vs 7.89 mg/g DM). Cumulative methane production was not affected by treatments (0.9973 ± 0.1549 mmol/g DM; P>0.05). Gas production and in vitro NDF digestibility were lower with 6% PF of linseed than soybean (160.88 vs 150.97 ml; and 69.28vs 62.89 %, respectively P<0.05). With linseed PF the NH3-N concentration was highest in CS than AH (41.27 vs 27.95 mg/dL; P<0.05) but IVDMD had the opposite result (78.54 vs 85.04). In conclusion, although methane production was not affected and in vitro digestibility and gas production were reduced with linseed PF, the concentration of C18:3 and C18:1 trans-11 was increased, which could improve the lipid profile of milk. The negative effects on digestibility were less with AH than of CS regardless of PF type and level.

Stem Cells Derived from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Functional Assessment: Exploring the Changes of Free Fatty Acids Composition during Cultivation.

The metabolic regulation of stemness is widely recognized as a crucial factor in determining the fate of stem cells. When transferred to a stimulating and nutrient-rich environment, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) undergo rapid proliferation, accompanied by a change in protein expression and a significant reconfiguration of central energy metabolism. This metabolic shift, from quiescence to metabolically active cells, can lead to an increase in the proportion of senescent cells and limit their regenerative potential. In this study, MSCs from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) were isolated and expanded in vitro for up to 10 passages. Immunophenotypic analysis, growth kinetics, in vitro plasticity, fatty acid content, and autophagic capacity were assessed throughout cultivation to evaluate the functional characteristics of SHEDs. Our findings revealed that SHEDs exhibit distinctive patterns of cell surface marker expression, possess high self-renewal capacity, and have a unique potential for neurogenic differentiation. Aged SHEDs exhibited lower proliferation rates, reduced potential for chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation, an increasing capacity for adipogenic differentiation, and decreased autophagic potential. Prolonged cultivation of SHEDs resulted in changes in fatty acid composition, signaling a transition from anti-inflammatory to proinflammatory pathways. This underscores the intricate connection between metabolic regulation, stemness, and aging, crucial for optimizing therapeutic applications.

Unveiling the anticancer potentiality of single cell oils produced by marine oleaginous Paradendryphiella sp. under optimized economic growth conditions.

Bioprospecting about new marine oleaginous fungi that produce advantageous bioproducts in a green sustainable process is the key of blue bioeconomy. Herein, the marine Paradendryphiella sp. was utilized for single cell oils (SCOs) production economically, via central composite design, the lipid content enhanced 2.2-fold by 5.5 g/L lipid yeild on seawater-based media supplemented with molasses concentration 50 g/L, yeast extract, 2.25 g/L at initial pH value (5.3) and 8 days of static incubation. Subsequently, the fatty acid methyl esters profiles of SCOs produced on optimized media under different abiotic conditions were determined; signifying qualitative and quantitative variations. Interestingly, the psychrophilic-prolonged incubation increased the unsaturation level of fatty acids to 59.34%, while ω-6 and ω-3 contents representing 23.53% and 0.67% respectively. Remarkably, it exhibited the highest EC100 dose by 677.03 µg/mL on normal human lung fibroblast Wi-38 cells. Meanwhile, it showed the highest inhibiting proliferation potential on cancer cell lines of A549, MDA-MB 231 and HepG-2 cells by 372.37, 417.48 and 365.00 µg/mL, respectively. Besides, it elevated the oxidative stress, the expression of key apoptotic genes and suppressed the expression of key oncogenes (NF-κB, BCL2 and cyclin D); implying its promising efficacy in cancer treatment as adjuvant drug. This study denoted the lipogenesis capacity of Paradendryphiella sp. under acidic/alkaline and psychrophilic/mesophilic conditions. Hereby attaining efficient and economic process under seasonal variation with different Egyptian marine sources to fill the gap of freshwater crisis and simultaneously preserve energy.

Isotope Labeling and Biochemical Assessment of Liver-Triacylglycerol in Patients with Different Levels of Histologically-Graded Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence is rapidly growing, and fatty liver has been found in a quarter of the US population. Increased liver lipids, particularly those derived from the pathway of de novo lipogenesis (DNL), have been identified as a hallmark feature in individuals with high liver fat. This has led to much activity in basic science and drug development in this area. No studies to date have investigated the contribution of DNL across a spectrum of disease, although it is clear that inhibition of DNL has been shown to reduce liver fat. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether liver lipid synthesis increases across the continuum of liver injury. METHODS: Individuals (n = 49) consumed deuterated water for 10 d before their scheduled bariatric surgeries to label DNL; blood and liver tissue samples were obtained on the day of the surgery. Liver lipid concentrations were quantitated, and levels of protein and gene expression assessed. RESULTS: Increased liver DNL, measured isotopically, was significantly associated with liver fatty acid synthase protein content (R = 0.470, P = 0.003), total steatosis assessed by histology (R = 0.526, P = 0.0008), and the fraction of DNL fatty acids in plasma very low-density lipoprotein-triacylglycerol (R = 0.747, P < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed a parabolic relationship between fractional liver DNL (percent) and NAFLD activity score (R = 0.538, P = 0.0004). CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that higher DNL is associated with early to mid stages of liver disease, and this pathway may be an effective target for the treatment of NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03683589.

Macronutrient composition of term and preterm human milk of different socio economic groups.

Assessment of the nutritional composition of Human Breast Milk (HBM) is important to understand its sufficiency as the sole nutrient source in infants. The present study is aimed to analyze the proximate composition along with total amino acid and fatty acid profile in term and preterm HBM of different socio economic status. This cross sectional study included, 120 lactating mothers with term or preterm gestation from maternity hospitals located in Hyderabad, Telangana. Nutritional proximate, total amino and fatty acid profiles were estimated in pooled human milk collected from each participant within the first week of postpartum. The macronutrient composition in term was similar to that of preterm breast milk. The essential amino acid Leucine was significantly high in preterm (8.91 ± 0.18) when compared to term (8.61 ± 0.23). ω-5 fatty acid Myristoleic acid was significantly high in preterm (0.14 ± 0.02) when compared to term (0.11 ± 0.02), whereas ω-6 fatty acids like Docosadienoic Acid and Eicosadienoic acid were found to be significantly high in term when compared to preterm. Further, it was also found that the mono unsaturated and ω-9 fatty acids were significantly high in lower socio economic group, whereas, poly unsaturated and ω -3 and 6 fatty acids were significantly high in upper socio economic group. The present study concludes that, nutritional composition like essential amino and fatty acids of human milk vary significantly between different gestational age as well as in socio economic groups.

Animal protein-soybean oil-based broiler diet optimizes net profit at the expense of desirable ω-6 fatty acids from the breast muscle of the broiler chicken.

Total 288 Ross-308-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into six dietary treatment groups in a two-way ANOVA with 2 × 3 factorial arrangements (two factors, i.e., dietary protein and energy having two types of protein, e.g., plant, animal and three different sources of energy, e.g., soybean oil, rice bran oil and sunflower oil) to justify if animal protein-soybean oil based broiler diet optimizes net profit at the expense of desirable ω-6 fatty acids in the breast muscle of the broiler chicken. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), final live weight (FLW), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (FE), carcass characteristics, cardio-pulmonary morphometry, fatty acid profile of the breast muscle and cost-benefit analysis were measured. Results indicated that animal protein significantly increased 4.27% FLW, 6.13% ADFI, 4.31% ADG and 2.93% wing weight. Accordingly, soybean oil increased 4.76% FLW, 3.80% ADG and 1.36% dressing percentage at the expense of 12.07% proventriculus weight compared with sunflower oil. The generalized linear model identified no interaction effects of the sources of protein and energy on overall performance of the birds. Replacement of vegetable protein by animal protein decreased 14.01% ∑ω-3, 12.16% ∑ω-6 and 12.21% sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (∑PUFA) and concomitantly increased 10.82% sum of saturated fatty acids (∑SFAs) in the breast muscle (Pectoralis major). Accordingly, replacement of sunflower oil by soybean oil decreased 29.17% ∑ω-3, 6.71% ∑ω-6, 11.62% sum of monounsaturated fatty acids (∑MUFAs) and 7.33% ∑PUFAs and concurrently increased 18.36% ∑SFAs in the breast muscle of the broiler birds. It was concluded that animal protein-soybean oil-based broiler diet optimized net profit at the expense of desirable ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids in the breast muscle of the broiler chicken.

Characterization of hepatic fatty acids using magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the assessment of treatment response to metformin in an eNOS-/- mouse model of metabolic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis and staging of disease. There is a clinical need for noninvasive diagnostic tools for risk stratification, follow-up, and monitoring treatment response that are currently lacking, as well as preclinical models that recapitulate the etiology of the human condition. We have characterized the progression of NAFLD in eNOS-/- mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) using noninvasive Dixon-based magnetic resonance imaging and single voxel STEAM spectroscopy-based protocols to measure liver fat fraction at 3 T. After 8 weeks of diet intervention, eNOS-/- mice exhibited significant accumulation of intra-abdominal and liver fat compared with control mice. Liver fat fraction measured by 1 H-MRS in vivo showed a good correlation with the NAFLD activity score measured by histology. Treatment of HFD-fed NOS3-/- mice with metformin showed significantly reduced liver fat fraction and altered hepatic lipidomic profile compared with untreated mice. Our results show the potential of in vivo liver MRI and 1 H-MRS to noninvasively diagnose and stage the progression of NAFLD and to monitor treatment response in an eNOS-/- murine model that represents the classic NAFLD phenotype associated with metabolic syndrome.

Health value and keeping quality of chevon from goats fed finisher diets containing hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed cake.

Wether goats (n = 7) were fed finishing diets containing either 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100 g/kg DM of hempseed cake (HSC) substituting soybean meal to evaluate chevon fatty acid, volatile and oxidative profiles. Feeding HSC diets linearly decreased (P < 0.05) chevon c9-16:1, 16:0, total saturated FA (SFA) and protein oxidation but linearly increased (P < 0.05) t9-18:1, t11-18:1, conjugated linoleic acids, n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), individual long-chain n-6 PUFA and antioxidant activity. On day 1 and 7 of retail display, diets containing 75 and 100 g/kg DM HSC had greater (P < 0.05) TBARS than the other diet × day interactions. Addition of HSC to the diet increased (P < 0.05) and preserved (P < 0.05) chevon contents of hexanal and methyl caprate throughout the retail display period. Overall, feeding HSC up to 100 g/kg DM enhances chevon profiles of healthful PUFA, desirable flavor volatiles and protein shelf-stability.

Food and drug industry applications of microalgae Spirulina platensis: A review.

Spirulina platensis is a photosynthetic, blue-green, spiral- or bulb-shaped microalgae. Due to the presence of minerals, vitamins, pigments (carotenes, phycocyanin and chlorophyll) proteins (55%-70%), carbohydrates (15%-25%), and essential fatty acids (5%-8%), it has been used as a nutritional supplement for decades. NASA successfully employed it as a nutritional supplement for astronauts on space missions then its popularity was increased. The chemical composition of Spirulina, which is rich in vitamins, minerals, phenolics, vital fatty acids, amino acids, and pigments, can be beneficial to human health when incorporated into meals. The pharmacological effects include antibacterial, anticancer, metalloprotective, immune-stimulating, and antioxidant. It modulates immunological activities and possesses anti-inflammatory qualities by preventing mast cells from releasing histamine. Due to its high quantity of protein, carbohydrate, lipid, vital amino and fatty acids, dietary minerals and vitamins, Spirulina exerts the abovementioned benefits. In this review, up-to-date and possible biological aspects, patents applied on Spirulina and heights of confirmation are addressed, and the extent of current and future exploration is also explored.

Resting and total energy expenditure of patients with long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (LC-FAODs).

The basis of medical nutrition therapy for patients with LC-FAODs is to provide adequate energy to maintain anabolism and prevent catabolism. In practice, energy needs are estimated based on formulas derived from normal populations but it is unknown if energy expenditure among patients with LC-FAODs is similar to the normal population. We measured resting energy expenditure (REE), total energy expenditure (TEE) and body composition in 31 subjects with LC-FAODs ranging in age from 7 to 64 years. Measured REE was lower than estimated REE by various prediction equations and measured TEE was lower than estimated TEE. It is possible that the lower energy expenditure based on prediction formulas from the normal population is due to differences in body composition; we compared body composition to normal data from the 2017-18 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Fat free mass and fat mass was similar between subjects with an LC-FAOD and NHANES normal data suggesting no difference in body composition. We then compared measured REE and TEE to normal published data from the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). Measured REE and TEE were significantly lower among subjects with LC-FAODs compared to normal published energy expenditure data. Our results suggests patients with a LC-FAOD exhibit a lower REE and therefore actually have a slightly lower TEE than estimated. Current prediction equations may overestimate energy expenditure of patients with a LC-FAOD.

Microscopy-Based Assessment of Fatty Acid Uptake and Lipid Accumulation in Cultured Cells.

The heart relies predominantly on the use of fatty acids to derive energy. Metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes pose a major risk factor for the development of heart failure. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism observed in these diseases manifests as cardiac lipotoxicity, and is associated with cardiac dysfunction. The alarming rise in the incidence of these metabolic disorders warrants the need for tools to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this article, we describe a confocal microscopy-based approach to monitor fatty acid uptake and lipid accumulation in vitro, in neonatal murine cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells. The protocol for assessment of fatty acid uptake relies on the use of BODIPY FL C 12™ to study the kinetics of fatty acid uptake via real-time imaging of fatty acid uptake in live cells. Importantly, it circumvents the need for radioactive labeling of fatty acids to evaluate their uptake. Similarly, the protocol for assessment of lipid accumulation relies on the use of BODIPY™ 493/503 to stain the cytosolic neutral lipid population in fixed cells. We couple these confocal microscopy-based approaches with fluorescence intensity analysis using FIJI to quantify fatty acid uptake and lipid accumulation in vitro. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Assessment of fatty acid uptake Basic Protocol 2: Assessment of lipid accumulation.

Valorization of agro-industrial wastes into polyhydroxyalkanoates-rich single-cell proteins to enable a circular waste-to-feed economy.

Recovering and converting carbon and nutrients from waste streams into healthy single-cell proteins (SCPs) can be an effective strategy to address costly waste management and support the increasing animal feed demand for the global food supply. Recently, SCPs rich in polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) have been identified as an effective biocontrol healthy feed to replace conventional antibiotics-supplemented aquaculture feed. PHB, an intercellular polymer of short-chain-length (SCL) hydroxy-fatty acids, is a common type of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) that can be microbially produced from various organics, including agro-industrial wastes. The complex chemical properties of agro-industrial wastes might produce SCPs containing PHA with SCL and/or medium chain-length (MCL) hydroxy-fatty acids. However, the effects of MCL-PHA-containing SCPs on aqua species' health and disease-fighting ability remains poorly understood. This study investigated the feasibility of producing various PHA-containing SCPs from renewable agro-industrial wastes/wastewaters, the effectiveness of SCL- and MCL-PHA as biocontrol agents, and the effects of these PHA-rich SCPs on the growth and disease resistance of an aquaculture animal model, brine shrimp Artemia. Zobellella denitrificans ZD1 and Pseudomonas oleovorans were able to grow on different pure substrates and agro-industrial wastes/wastewaters to produce various SCL- and/or MCL-PHA-rich SCPs. Low doses of MCL-fatty acids (i.e., PHA intermediates) efficiently suppressed the growth of aquaculture pathogens. Moreover, MCL-PHA-rich SCPs served as great food/energy sources for Artemia and improved Artemia's ability to fight pathogens. This study offers a win-win approach to address the challenges of wastes/wastewater management and feed supply faced by the aquaculture industry.

Comparative Assessment of Nitrogen Concentration Effect on Microalgal Growth and Biochemical Characteristics of Two Chlorella Strains Cultivated in Digestate.

Microalgae have been recently recognized as a promising alternative for the effective treatment of anaerobic digestion effluents. However, to date, a widely applied microalgae-based process is still absent, due to several constraints mainly attributed to high ammonia concentrations and turbidity, both hindering microalgal growth. Within this scope, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the performance of two Chlorella strains, SAG 211-11b and a local Algerian isolate, under different nitrogen levels, upon ammonia stripping. The experiments were performed on cylindrical photobioreactors under controlled pH (7.8 ± 0.2) and temperature (25 ± 2 °C). Cultures were monitored for biomass production and substrate consumption. After sampling at the beginning of the stationary phase of growth (12th day) and after the maturation of the cells (24th day), an analysis of the produced biomass was conducted, in terms of its biochemical components. The local isolate grew better than C. vulgaris 211-11b, resulting in 1.43 mg L-1 biomass compared to 1.02 mg L-1 under 25 mg NH4-N L-1, while organic carbon and nutrient consumption varied between the two strains and different conditions. Concerning biomass quality, a high initial NH4-N concentration led to high protein content, while low nitrogen levels favored fatty acid (FA) accumulation, though the production of pigments was inhibited. In particular, the protein content of the final biomass was determined close to 45% of the dry weight in all experimental scenarios with adequate nitrogen, while proteins decreased, and the fatty acids approached 20% in the case of the local isolate grown on the substrate with the lowest initial ammonium nitrogen (25 mg NH4-N L-1). The novelty of the present work lies in the comparison of a microalga with industrial applications against a local isolate of the same species, which may prove to be even more robust and profitable.

Improving the functional value of meat quality by feeding with protected fat supplementation in Morkaraman lambs.

This study investigated the effect of feeding different levels of protected fat (calcium soaps of tallow) on fattening performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, fatty acid composition of Longissimus Thoracis (LT) muscle and economic evaluation of 45 fat-tailed Morkaraman male lambs. The lambs were randomly divided into three groups including a control diet without protected fat (CON), supplemented with 2% protected fat (group PF2), and supplemented with 4% protected fat (group PF4) during the fattening period. Eight lambs randomly selected from each group were slaughtered to determine carcass characteristics and meat quality. Supplementing protected fat significantly improved the fattening performance and carcass characteristics (p<0.05). The groups were similar in terms of pH, colour, ether extract, dry matter and sensory evaluations, except for the crude protein of group PF2. Myristic acid and stearic acid (p<0.05), which are saturated fatty acids (SFA), were decreased with the supplementation of protected fat, while palmitic acid was increased (p<0.01). The fattening with protected fat had a highly significant positive effect on important unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid (p<0.01) and resulted in an increase of approximately 91% in the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (p<0.05). SFA was significantly decreased, and health indicators were improved (p<0.01). In conclusion, the supplementation of protected fat had a positive effect on fattening performance, carcass traits, chemical, sensory properties and economic evaluation.