Evaluation of the Available Energy Value and Amino Acid Digestibility of Brown Rice Stored for 6 Years and Its Application in Pig Diets.

Long-term storage may reduce the nutritional quality of brown rice, so the present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional values of long-term-stored nutrition in pig diets. In Exp. 1, 18 Landrace × Yorkshire (L × Y) barrows with an initial body weight (IBW) of 25.48 ± 3.21 kg were randomly assigned to three treatments, including a corn-based diet, one-year-stored brown rice (BR1) diet, and six-year-stored brown rice (BR6) diet, to determine the digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) values of stored brown rice. In Exp. 2, 24 barrows (L × Y; IBW: 22.16 ± 2.42 kg) fixed with ileal T-cannula were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments, including a corn diet, two stored brown rice diets, and a nitrogen-free diet, to evaluate the amino acid (AA) digestibility of the stored brown rice. In Exp. 3 and 4, 108 crossbred weaned piglets (L × Y; IBW: 9.16 ± 0.89 kg) and 90 crossbred growing pigs (L × Y; IBW: 48.28 ± 3.51 kg) were allotted to three treatment diets, including a control diet and two stored brown rice diets, respectively, to investigate the application of stored brown rice in weaned piglets and fully grown pig diets. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in the DE and ME values between corn and stored brown rice (p > 0.05), while the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of arginine, histidine, asparagine + aspartic acid (Asx), and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of arginine and histidine were higher in the stored brown rice diet compared to the corn diet (p < 0.05). Compared to the corn, the stored brown rice showed no significant effects on growth performance, nutrient-apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), and serum biochemical indices (p > 0.05) but showed decreased activity in the various digestive enzymes in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of the weaned piglets (p < 0.05). Also, the stored brown rice diet showed no significant effects on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, as well as the fatty acid profiles in the longissimus dorsi muscle of fully grown pigs compared with the corn diet (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the brown rice stored for 6 years under good conditions had no obvious changes in the available energy and nutrient values. Although it may reduce digestive enzyme activity in the small intestines of the piglets, the stored brown rice showed no obvious adverse effects on growth performance and meat quality and can be effectively used in pig diets.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the molecular regulatory network underlying the prevention of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum against LPS-induced salpingitis in laying hens.

BACKGROUND: Salpingitis is one of the common diseases in laying hen production, which greatly decreases the economic outcome of laying hen farming. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was effective in preventing local or systemic inflammation, however rare studies were reported on its prevention against salpingitis. This study aimed to investigate the preventive molecular regulatory network of microencapsulated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (MLP) against salpingitis through multi-omics analysis, including microbiome, transcriptome and metabolome analyses. RESULTS: The results revealed that supplementation of MLP in diet significantly alleviated the inflammation and atrophy of uterus caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in hens (P < 0.05). The concentrations of plasma IL-2 and IL-10 in hens of MLP-LPS group were higher than those in hens of LPS-stimulation group (CN-LPS group) (P < 0.05). The expression levels of TLR2, MYD88, NF-κB, COX2, and TNF-α were significantly decreased in the hens fed diet supplemented with MLP and suffered with LPS stimulation (MLP-LPS group) compared with those in the hens of CN-LPS group (P < 0.05). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by MLP were involved in inflammation, reproduction, and calcium ion transport. At the genus level, the MLP supplementation significantly increased the abundance of Phascolarctobacterium, whereas decreased the abundance of Candidatus_Saccharimonas in LPS challenged hens (P < 0.05). The metabolites altered by dietary supplementation with MLP were mainly involved in galactose, uronic acid, histidine, pyruvate and primary bile acid metabolism. Dietary supplementation with MLP inversely regulates LPS-induced differential metabolites such as LysoPA (24:0/0:0) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, dietary supplementation with microencapsulated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum prevented salpingitis by modulating the abundances of Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Phascolarctobacterium, Ruminococcus_torques_group and Eubacterium_hallii_group while downregulating the levels of plasma metabolites, p-tolyl sulfate, o-cresol and N-acetylhistamine and upregulating S-lactoylglutathione, simultaneously increasing the expressions of CPNE4, CNTN3 and ACAN genes in the uterus, and ultimately inhibiting oviducal inflammation.

Enhanced Cell Wall and Cell Membrane Activity Promotes Heat Adaptation of Enterococcus faecium.

Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) is widely used in foods and is known as a probiotic to treat or prevent diarrhea in pets and livestock. However, the poor resistance of E. faecium to high temperature processing procedures limits its use. Strain domestication is a low-cost and effective method to obtain high-temperature-resistant strains. In this study, heat treatment was performed from 45 °C to 70 °C and the temperature was gradually increased by 5 °C every 3 days. After domestication, the survival rates of the high temperature adaptation strain RS047-wl under 65 °C water bath for 40 min was 11.5 times higher than WT RS047. Moreover, the saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents in cell membrane and the cell volume significantly increased in the RS047-wl. The combined transcriptomic, metabolomic, and proteomics analysis results showed a significant enhancement of cell wall and membrane synthesis ability in the RS047-wl. In conclusion, one of the main factors contributing to the improved high temperature resistance of RS047-wl was its enhanced ability to synthesize cell wall and membrane, which helped maintain normal cell morphology. Developing a high-temperature-resistant strain and understanding its mechanism enables it to adapt to high temperatures. This lays the groundwork for its future development and application.

Integrative Multiomics Analysis of the Heat Stress Response of Enterococcus faecium.

A continuous heat-adaptation test was conducted for one Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) strain wild-type (WT) RS047 to obtain a high-temperature-resistant strain. After domestication, the strain was screened with a significantly higher ability of heat resistance. which is named RS047-wl. Then a multi-omics analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics was used to analyze the mechanism of the heat resistance of the mutant. A total of 98 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 115 differential metabolites covering multiple metabolic processes were detected in the mutant, which indicated that the tolerance of heat resistance was regulated by multiple mechanisms. The changes in AgrB, AgrC, and AgrA gene expressions were involved in quorum-sensing (QS) system pathways, which regulate biofilm formation. Second, highly soluble osmotic substances such as putrescine, spermidine, glycine betaine (GB), and trehalose-6P were accumulated for the membrane transport system. Third, organic acids metabolism and purine metabolism were down-regulated. The findings can provide target genes for subsequent genetic modification of E. faecium, and provide indications for screening heat-resistant bacteria, so as to improve the heat-resistant ability of E. faecium for production.

Effects of Solid-State Fermented Wheat Bran on Growth Performance, Immune Function, Intestinal Morphology and Microflora in Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged Broiler Chickens.

The study evaluated the effects of dry and wet solid-state fermented wheat bran (FWB) on growth performance, immune function, intestinal morphology and microflora in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged broiler chickens. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. A total of 252 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 1 of 6 treatments: basal diet + sterile saline (negative control, NC), basal diet + LPS (positive control, PC), 7% dry FWB + sterile saline (FWB-I), 7% dry FWB + LPS (FWB-II), 7% wet FWB + sterile saline (FWB-III) and 7% wet FWB + LPS (FWB-IV), with containing 6 replicate cages/treatment and 7 broiler chickens/cage, and the experimental period lasted for 42 days. Broilers were intraperitoneally injected with either 0.5 mg LPS or sterile saline solution per kg body weight at 16, 18 and 20 d of age. Growth performance, serum immunological parameters and indicators related to intestinal health were analyzed on days 21 and 42. Compared with NC, dry and wet FWB significantly increased (p < 0.05) average daily feed intake of days 21 to 42, and increased (p < 0.05) the villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio of ileum on day 21, decreased (p = 0.101) the jejunum crypt depth and decreased (p < 0.05) the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts of the cecum digesta on day 42. Compared with NC, FWB-II and FWB-IV significantly increased (p < 0.05) the levels of serum total protein and globulin on day 21; compared with the basal diet groups, dry and wet FWB groups significantly increased (p < 0.05) glucose levels on day 21, and wet FWB significantly decreased (p < 0.05) alanine aminotransferase levels on day 42. Compared with PC and FWB-II, FWB-IV significantly increased (p < 0.05) the level of serum immunoglobulin G on day 21. Compared with PC and FWB-II, FWB-IV significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1ß and acute C reactive protein (CRP) on day 21; compared with FWB-III, FWB-IV significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the levels of IL-6, IL-8, CRP and tumor necrosis factor alpha on day 42, but the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly increased (p < 0.05) on days 21 and 42. These results indicated that supplementing 7% dry or wet FWB can improve growth performance and serum immune functions of broilers, which effectively alleviate the LPS-challenged damage, and wet FWB had a better effect than dry FWB.

Effects of synbiotic on growth, digestibility, immune and antioxidant performance in broilers.

The overuse of in-feed antibiotics has been associated with serious issues, including the developing of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and causing drug residues in poultry products. To date, many countries have restricted the use of growth-promoting antibiotics in food animals, resulting in the increased need for effective alternatives to in-feed antibiotic. Synbiotics, which are composed of probiotics and prebiotics, have been shown to act synergistically when applied simultaneously. Thus, this study investigated the effects of a synbiotic, composed of microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum (MLP) and fructooligosaccharide (FOS), on growth, immune and antioxidant parameters, and digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in broilers. A total of 168 newly hatched male broilers were randomly allotted to three dietary groups (n = 7): (1) a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON); (2) basal diet + synbiotic (SYN); and (3) basal diet + aureomycin (ANT). Compared with the CON, chickens had greater average daily gain and digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in the SYN group (P < 0.05). In the SYN and ANT group, serum IgA, IgG, and IL-10 levels were higher, while the serum TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-6 levels were reduced (P < 0.05) compared to CON. Compared with CON, the level of serum malondialdehyde was lower (P < 0.05) and SOD level was higher (P < 0.05) in either SYN or ANT group. No significant differences in populations of Escherichia coli were seen in chickens among the three groups, whereas, the populations of Lactobacillus were higher (P < 0.05) in chickens in the SYN group compared with those in CON and ANT groups. Taken together, the addition of SYN, consisting of MLP and FOS, had benefits on growth, immune and antioxidant parameters, and digestibility of calcium and phosphorus, indicating its potential to serve as a substitute for antibiotics in broiler feeding.

An Overview for the Nanoparticles-Based Quantitative Lateral Flow Assay.

The development of the lateral flow assay (LFA) has received much attention in both academia and industry because of their broad applications to food safety, environmental monitoring, clinical diagnosis, and so forth. The user friendliness, low cost, and easy operation are the most attractive advantages of the LFA. In recent years, quantitative detection has become another focus of LFA development. Here, the most recent studies of quantitative LFAs are reviewed. First, the principles and corresponding formats of quantitative LFAs are introduced. In the biomaterial and nanomaterial sections, the detection, capture, and signal amplification biomolecules and the optical, fluorescent, luminescent, and magnetic labels used in LFAs are described. The invention of dedicated strip readers has drawn further interest in exploiting the better performance of LFAs. Therefore, next, the development of dedicated reader devices is described and the usefulness and specifications of these devices for LFAs are discussed. Finally, the applications of LFAs in the detection of metal ions, biotoxins, pathogenic microorganisms, veterinary drugs, and pesticides in the fields of food safety and environmental health and the detection of nucleic acids, biomarkers, and viruses in clinical analyses are summarized.

Immunoassays for the rapid detection of pantothenic acid in pharmaceutical and food products.

Pharmaceutical and food products are fortified with pantothenic acid (PA) to address potential deficiency. Therefore, its fast, reliable, and accurate detection is of great importance to the quality control. Here, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) and a gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) were established for the determination of PA based on an anti-PA monoclonal antibody (mAb). The ic-ELISA displayed a limit of detection (LOD) of 32.22 ng/mL, and the linear range was 64.44-628.84 ng/mL. Average recoveries of PA in fortified samples were 88.60-110.11% when using the ic-ELISA and a good correlation between the ic-ELISA and LC-MS/MS was obtained when analyzing samples. Furthermore, the developed LFIA strip showed a calculated LOD of 71.99, 115.80, and 240.12 ng/mL in B-complex Vitamin tablets, energy drink and infant milk powder samples, respectively. All the results demonstrated that both of these immunoassays are suitable for determining PA in pharmaceutical and food products.

Correction: Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum 15-1 and fructooligosaccharides on the response of broilers to pathogenic Escherichia coli O78 challenge.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212079.].

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum 15-1 and fructooligosaccharides on the response of broilers to pathogenic Escherichia coli O78 challenge.

One-day-old broilers were randomly allocated to five treatment groups: basal diet and orally administered sterile saline (negative control, n-control); basal diet challenged with E. coli O78 (positive control, p-control); basal diet supplemented with 1×108 CFU/kg L. plantarum 15-1 and challenged with E. coli O78 (LP); basal diet supplemented with 5 g/kg fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and challenged with E. coli O78 (FOS); and basal diet supplemented with both L. plantarum 15-1 and FOS and challenged with E. coli O78 (LP+FOS). The broilers in the LP, FOS, and LP+FOS groups displayed a decrease of crypt depth at day 14 compared with the control groups. Furthermore, at days 14 and 21, the broilers in the LP group exhibited reduced serum levels of diamine oxidase (DAO) compared with the p-control group (p<0.05), and the broilers in the LP+FOS group showed increased serum concentrations of IgA and IgG relative to both control groups and decreased DAO levels compared with the p-control group (p<0.05). Moreover, the LP group displayed higher levels of acetic acid and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) compared with the p-control group at day 14 (p<0.05), and the FOS group showed higher levels of valeric acid and total SCFAs at day 21 (p<0.05). The LP+FOS group also displayed a higher level of butyric acid at day 14 (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with FOS improved the growth performance, while supplementation with L. plantarum 15-1 and FOS improved intestinal health by increasing the levels of SCFAs and mitigating the damage caused by E. coli O78, thus preventing intestinal damage and enhancing the immune response.

Optimal Dietary Ferulic Acid for Suppressing the Obesity-Related Disorders in Leptin-Deficient Obese C57BL/6J -ob/ob Mice.

Ferulic acid (FA) is a major polyphenolic compound and has been shown to improve the glucose and lipid homeostasis in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Here, we found the optimal level of dietary FA to ameliorate obesity and obesity-correlated disorders, and identified the responses of gut microbiota to dietary FA in genetic leptin-deficient obese ( ob/ob) mice. The ob/ob mice exhibited persistent higher body weights, feed efficiency, white adipose tissue weights, and hepatic lipid accumulation, compared to those of the wild-type mice. However, 0.5% dietary FA suppressed these symptoms in ob/ob mice. The diversity of gut microbiota and the total abundance of obesity- and anti-obesity-related genera were not influenced after FA intervention in ob/ob mice. These data suggest that sufficient intake of FA (0.5%) could be useful for treating obesity or obesity-related diseases, and this weight-control effect is possibly not correlated with the gut-brain axis.

Expression of lncRNA01296 in esophageal carcinoma tissues and its effect on proliferation and migration of TE-2 cells / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#Objective: To investigate the expression of lncRNA01296 in esophageal cancer (EC) tissues and its effect on the proliferation and migration of EC TE-2 cells. Methods:Atotal of 36 pairs of esophageal cancer tissues and corresponding para-cancerous tissues were collected from EC patients admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery,Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College from January 2017 to September 2018. The human normal esophageal epithelial (HEEC) cells and human esophageal cancer cell lines ECA109, TE-1 and TE-2 were cultured. qPCR was used to detect the mRNAexpressions of lincRNA01296, SNRPA(small nuclear ribonucleoproteinA) and NGF (nerve growth factor) in EC tissues and cells. Recombinant lentiviral interference vectoror control vector were used to transfect EC cell lines, as sh-lncRNA01296#1,#2 and Mock groups. WB was used to detect the protein expressions of SNRPAand NGF in transfected cells. MTS assay was used to detect cell proliferation, and Transwell assays were used to detect cell invasion and migration of TE-2 cells after transfection. Results: The mRNAexpressions of lncRNA01296, SNRPAand NGF were significantly increased in esophageal cancer tissues and cell lines (all P<0.01), and these expressions in poorly differentiated TE-2 cells were higher than those in highly differentiated ECA109 and TE-1 cells (all P<0.05). The mRNAexpressions of lncRNA01296 and NGF in sh-lncRNA01296#1 and sh-lncRNA01296#2 groups were significantly lower than those in Mock group (all P<0.01), while the mRNAexpression of SNRPAshowed no statistical difference among three groups (P>0.05). The protein expressions of lncRNA01296 and NGF in sh-lncRNA01296#1 and sh-lncRNA01296#2 groups were significantly lower than those in Mock group (all P<0.01). The relative proliferation ability of cells in sh-lncRNA01296#1 and shlncRNA01296#2 groups was significantly lower than that of Mock group at 48 and 72 h after transfection (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of invasive cells was (72.0±6.3), (36.6±4.3) and (33.9±3.7) in Mock, sh-lncRNA01296#1 and sh-lncRNA01296#2 groups, respectively; and the number of migrated cells was (85.2±9.9), (47.5±8.1) and (43.8±6.5), respectively, indicating that the numbers of invasive and migrated cells in sh-lncRNA01296#1 and sh-lncRNA01296#2 groups were significantly less than those in Mock group(all P<0.01). Conclusion: lncRNA01296 can up-regulate SNRPAexpression to promote NGF-mediated proliferation and metastasis of EC cells, which may provide new target for the diagnosis and treatment of esophagealcancer.

Genistein and daidzein induce apoptosis of colon cancer cells by inhibiting the accumulation of lipid droplets.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanisms of genistein (GEN) and daidzein (DAI) in inducing apoptosis of colon cancer cells by inhibition of lipid droplets (LDs) accumulation. METHODS: HT-29 cells were used and treated by GEN or DAI in this paper. LDs accumulation was induced and inhibited by oleic acid (OA) and C75, respectively. The expression changes of LDs-related markers were confirmed by semiquantitative real time-PCR (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: GEN and DAI effectively reduced the LDs accumulation and downregulated the expression of Perilipin-1, ADRP and Tip-47 family proteins and vimentin levels. GEN and DAI significantly induced the mRNA expression of PPAR-γ, Fas, FABP, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT3), and microsomal TG transfer protein (MTTP), and reduced the mRNA expression of UCP2. Furthermore, the results showed a decrease of PI3K expression by GEN and DAI when compared with OA treatment, and both GEN and DAI can increase the expression of FOXO3a and caspase-8 significantly when these proteins were decreased by OA treatment. GEN is more effective than DAI in inducing cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that GEN and DAI inhibit the accumulation of LDs by regulating LDs-related factors and lead to a final apoptosis of colon cancer cells. These results may provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of isoflavones in anti-obesity and anti-tumor functions.

The targeted regulation of Gli1 by miR-361 to inhibit epithelia-mesenchymal transition and invasion of esophageal carcinoma cells.

Epithelia-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical for invasion and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma. Gli1, a transcriptional factor in Hedgehog pathway, is correlated with EMT, invasion and metastasis of tumors. However, its role in esophageal cancer is still unknown. Bioinformatics analysis revealed relationship between microRNA (miR)-361 and 3'-UTR of Gli1 gene. This study thus investigated the role of miR-361 and Gli1 in invasion and metastasis of esophageal cancer. Both tumor and adjacent tissues were collected from 58 esophageal cancer patients to test the expressions of miR-361 and Gli1, the relationship of which was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Cultured esophageal cancer cells EC9706 were transfected with mimic NC, miR-361 mimic, si-NC, si-Gli1, miR-361 mimics+si-Glil, pQC or pQC-FU-Gli1. Transwell and colony formation assays were performed for cell invasion and attachment-independent growth. Expressions of Gli1, Snail, E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins were revealed by Western blotting. The expression of Gli1 was significantly elevated in esophageal cancer tissues, along with lower miR-361 expression which was correlated with TNM stage. MiR-361 inhibited the expression of Gli1 via targeting on 3'-UTR of Gli1 gene. The transfection of miR-361 mimics and/or si-Gli1 significantly suppressed the growth of malignant cells. The over-expression of miR-361 and/or silencing of Gli1 decreased intracellular expression of Gli1, Snail and N-cadherin, and increased E-cadherin expression to suppress EMT and invasion of tumor cells while the opposite effects were obtained by over-expression of Gli1. Abnormal elevation of Gli1 and decrease of miR-361 were found in esophageal cancer tissues. MiR-361 weakened invasion of cancer cells and impeded EMT process via the inhibition of Gli1.

Genistein induces apoptosis of colon cancer cells by reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal via a Notch1/NF-κB/slug/E-cadherin pathway.

BACKGROUND: Genistein has been known to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in several kinds of cancer cells. While knowledge of genistein in regulating epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of colon cancer cells is unknown. METHODS: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of genistein on EMT of colon cancer cells, HT-29 cells were used and treated by genistein and TNF-α in this paper. EMT was determined by cell invasion assays using a transwell chamber and the expression changes of EMT-related markers were confirmed by RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Genistein inhibited cell migration at 200 µmol/L. Genistein reversed the EMT of colon cancer cells by upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of N-cadherin, accompanied by the suppression of EMT related makers, such as Snail2/slug, ZEB1, ZEB2, FOXC1, FOXC2 and TWIST1. Moreover, genistein can inhibit the expression of notch-1, p-NF-κB and NF-κB, while promote the expression of Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase-3 in HT-29 cells. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that genistein suppressed the migration of colon cancer cells by reversal the EMT via suppressing the Notch1/NF-κB/slug/E-cadherin pathway. Genistein may be developed as a potential antimetastasis agent to colon cancer.

Combined effects of chitosan and microencapsulated Enterococcus faecalis CG1.0007 probiotic supplementation on performance and diarrhea incidences in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88+ challenged piglets.

The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) and a microencapsulated Enterococcus faecalis CG1.0007 probiotic (PRO) on growth performance and diarrhea incidences in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88+ challenged piglets in a 14-d study. Thirty piglets, 7.19 ± 0.52 kg initial BW weaned at 21 ± 1 d, were allotted to 5 treatment groups (n = 6) consisting of a corn-soybean meal diet with no additive (negative control, NC), NC + 0.25% chlortetracycline (positive control, PC), NC + 400 mg/kg COS (COS), NC + 100 mg/kg PRO (PRO) and NC + a combination of COS and PRO (CPRO). Pigs were individually housed in cages, acclimated to treatments for a 7-d period and had ad libitum access to feed and water throughout the study. On d 8, pigs were weighed, blood samples were collected, and then orally challenged with 6 mL (1 × 1011 cfu/mL) of freshly grown ETEC inoculum. During post-challenge period, blood was sampled at 24 and 48 h to determine plasma urea nitrogen (PUN), and diarrhea incidences and fecal consistency scores were recorded from d 9 to 12. On d 14, all pigs were weighed and then euthanized to obtain intestinal tissue samples for histomorphometric measurements. Growth performance responses were similar among treatments during the pre- and post-challenge periods. There were no significant differences in PUN content, incidences of diarrhea, and fecal consistency scores among treatments. The intestinal histomorphology results did not differ significantly among treatments except for PC with increased (P = 0.0001) villus:crypt ratio compared with the NC. Under the conditions of the present study, it can be concluded that supplementation of piglet diets with 400 mg/kg COS, 100 mg/kg microencapsulated PRO or their combination did not significantly improve piglet growth performance both during the pre- and post-ETEC K88+ oral inoculation. Also, there were no significant reduction of incidences and severity of diarrhea after challenge compared with the control group.

A gold nanoparticle-based semi-quantitative and quantitative ultrasensitive paper sensor for the detection of twenty mycotoxins.

A semi-quantitative and quantitative multi-immunochromatographic (ICA) strip detection assay was developed for the simultaneous detection of twenty types of mycotoxins from five classes, including zearalenones (ZEAs), deoxynivalenols (DONs), T-2 toxins (T-2s), aflatoxins (AFs), and fumonisins (FBs), in cereal food samples. Sensitive and specific monoclonal antibodies were selected for this assay. The semi-quantitative results were obtained within 20 min by the naked eye, with visual limits of detection for ZEAs, DONs, T-2s, AFs and FBs of 0.1-0.5, 2.5-250, 0.5-1, 0.25-1 and 2.5-10 µg kg(-1), and cut-off values of 0.25-1, 5-500, 1-10, 0.5-2.5 and 5-25 µg kg(-1), respectively. The quantitative results were obtained using a hand-held strip scan reader, with the calculated limits of detection for ZEAs, DONs, T-2s, AFs and FBs of 0.04-0.17, 0.06-49, 0.15-0.22, 0.056-0.49 and 0.53-1.05 µg kg(-1), respectively. The analytical results of spiked samples were in accordance with the accurate content in the simultaneous detection analysis. This newly developed ICA strip assay is suitable for the on-site detection and rapid initial screening of mycotoxins in cereal samples, facilitating both semi-quantitative and quantitative determination.

A SERS-active sensor based on heterogeneous gold nanostar core-silver nanoparticle satellite assemblies for ultrasensitive detection of aflatoxinB1.

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor based on gold nanostar (Au NS) core-silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) satellites was fabricated for the first time to detect aflatoxinB1 (AFB1). We constructed the SERS sensor using AFB1 aptamer (DNA1)-modified Ag satellites and a complementary sequence (DNA2)-modified Au NS core. The Raman label (ATP) was modified on the surface of Ag satellites. The SERS signal was enhanced when the satellite NP was attached to the Au core NS. The AFB1 aptamer on the surface of Ag satellites would bind to the targets when AFB1 was present in the system, Ag satellites were then removed and the SERS signal decreased. This SERS sensor showed superior specificity for AFB1 and the linear detection range was from 1 to 1000 pg mL(-1) with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.48 pg mL(-1). The excellent recovery experiment using peanut milk demonstrated that the sensor could be applied in food and environmental detection.

SERS encoded nanoparticle heterodimers for the ultrasensitive detection of folic acid.

In this paper, gold­silver nanoparticle (AuNP­AgNP) heterodimers were assembled with highly yield as an active SERS substrate, based on antigen­antibody immunoreaction. The developed SERS sensor has successful achieved the ultrasensitive detection of folic acid (FA) with the limit of detection (LOD) as 0.86 pg/mL. And the linear range was from 0.005 ng/mL to 1 ng/mL. The results also demonstrated that this developed method showed high specificity and excellent recovery for the human serum samples, indicating its promising potential in bio-diagnosis and the environmental monitoring.