Forest fire size amplifies postfire land surface warming.

Climate warming has caused a widespread increase in extreme fire weather, making forest fires longer-lived and larger1-3. The average forest fire size in Canada, the USA and Australia has doubled or even tripled in recent decades4,5. In return, forest fires feed back to climate by modulating land-atmospheric carbon, nitrogen, aerosol, energy and water fluxes6-8. However, the surface climate impacts of increasingly large fires and their implications for land management remain to be established. Here we use satellite observations to show that in temperate and boreal forests in the Northern Hemisphere, fire size persistently amplified decade-long postfire land surface warming in summer per unit burnt area. Both warming and its amplification with fire size were found to diminish with an increasing abundance of broadleaf trees, consistent with their lower fire vulnerability compared with coniferous species9,10. Fire-size-enhanced warming may affect the success and composition of postfire stand regeneration11,12 as well as permafrost degradation13, presenting previously overlooked, additional feedback effects to future climate and fire dynamics. Given the projected increase in fire size in northern forests14,15, climate-smart forestry should aim to mitigate the climate risks of large fires, possibly by increasing the share of broadleaf trees, where appropriate, and avoiding active pyrophytes.

Metabolomic reveals the responses of sludge properties and microbial communities to high nitrite stress in denitrifying phosphorus removal systems.

Nitrite, as an electron acceptor, plays a good role in denitrifying phosphorus removal (DPR); however, high nitrite concentration has adverse affects on sludge performance. We investigated the precise mechanisms of responses of sludge to high nitrite stress, including surface characteristics, intracellular and extracellular components, microbial and metabolic responses. When the nitrite stress reached 90 mg/L, the sludge settling performance was improved, but the activated sludge was aging. FTIR and XPS analysis revealed a significant increase in the hydrophobicity of the sludge, resulting in improve settling performance. However, the intracellular carbon sources synthesis was inhibited. In addition, the components in the tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (TB-EPS) of sludge were significantly reduced and indicated the disturb of metabolism. Notably, Exiguobacterium emerged as a new genus when face high nitrite stress that could maintaining survival in hostile environments. Moreover, metabolomic analysis demonstrated strong biological response to nitrite stress further supported above results that include the inhibited of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. More importantly, some lipids (PS, PA, LysoPA, LysoPC and LysoPE) were significantly upregulated that related enhanced membrane lipid remodeling. The comprehensive analyses provide novel insights into the high nitrite stress responses mechanisms in activated sludge systems.

Identification, characterisation and expression analysis of peanut sugar invertase genes reveal their vital roles in response to abiotic stress.

KEY MESSAGE: Sucrose invertase activity is positively related to osmotic and salt stress resistance in peanut. Sucrose invertases (INVs) have important functions in plant growth and response to environmental stresses. However, their biological roles in peanut are still not fully revealed. In this research, we identified 42 AhINV genes in the peanut genome. They were highly conserved and clustered into three groups with 24 segmental duplication events occurred under purifying selection. Transcriptional expression analysis exhibited that they were all ubiquitously expressed, and most of them were up-regulated by osmotic and salt stresses, with AhINV09, AhINV23 and AhINV19 showed the most significant up-regulation. Further physiochemical analysis showed that the resistance of peanut to osmotic and salt stress was positively related to the high sugar content and sucrose invertase activity. Our results provided fundamental information on the structure and evolutionary relationship of INV gene family in peanut and gave theoretical guideline for further functional study of AhINV genes in response to abiotic stress.

Fermentation characteristics and postacidification of yogurt by Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 6038 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus CICC 6047 at optimal inoculum ratio.

This study aimed to investigate the symbiosis between Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 6038 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus CICC 6047. In addition, the effect of their different inoculum ratios was determined, and comparison experiments of fermentation characteristics and storage stability of milk fermented by their monocultures and cocultures at optimal inoculum ratio were performed. We found the time to obtain pH 4.6 and ΔpH during storage varied among 6 inoculum ratios (1:1, 2:1, 10:1, 19:1, 50:1, 100:1). By the statistical model to evaluate the optimal ratio, the ratio of 19:1 was selected, which exhibited high acidification rate and low postacidification with pH values remaining between 4.2 and 4.4 after a 50-d storage. Among the 3 groups included in our analyses (i.e., the monocultures of S. thermophilus CICC 6038 [St] and Lb. bulgaricus CICC 6047 [Lb] and their cocultures [St+Lb] at 19:1), the coculture group showed higher acidification activity, improved rheological properties, richer typical volatile compounds, more desirable sensor quality after the fermentation process than the other 2 groups. However, the continuous accumulation of acetic acid during storage showed that acetic acid was more highly correlated with postacidification than d-lactic acid for the Lb group and St+Lb group. Our study emphasized the importance of selecting an appropriate bacterial consortium at the optimal inoculum ratio to achieve favorable fermentation performance and enhanced postacidification stability during storage.

Characterizing membrane anchoring of leaf-form ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase in rice.

Leaf-form ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductases (LFNRs) function in the last step of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, exist as soluble proteins in the chloroplast stroma and are weakly associated with thylakoids or tightly anchored to chloroplast membranes. Arabidopsis thaliana has two LFNRs, and the chloroplast proteins AtTROL and AtTIC62 participate in anchoring AtLFNRs to the thylakoid membrane. By contrast, the membrane anchoring mechanism of rice (Oryza sativa) LFNRs has not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the membrane-anchoring mechanism of LFNRs and its physiological roles in rice. We characterized the rice protein OsTROL1 based on its homology to AtTROL. We determined that OsTROL1 is also a thylakoid membrane anchor and its loss leads to a compensatory increase in OsTIC62. OsLFNR1 attachment through a membrane anchor depends on OsLFNR2, unlike the Arabidopsis counterparts. In addition, OsTIC62 was more highly expressed in the dark than under light conditions, consistent with the increased membrane binding of OsLFNR in the dark. Moreover, we observed reciprocal stabilization between OsLFNRs and their membrane anchors. In addition, unlike in Arabidopsis, the loss of LFNR membrane anchor affects photosynthesis in rice. Overall, our study sheds light on the mechanisms anchoring LFNRs to membranes in rice and highlights differences with Arabidopsis.

Prevalence and morphological subtype distributions of anaemia in a Chinese rural population: the Henan Rural Cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the recent prevalence and the distributions of morphological subtypes of anaemia in the rural population. DESIGN: Anaemia was defined according to the WHO and the Chinese criteria, and the morphological subtypes of anaemia were classified based on the erythrocyte parameters. The age-standardised prevalence was calculated according to the data of the Population Census 2010 in China. SETTING: A cross-sectional study in Henan Province. PARTICIPANTS: 33 585 subjects aged 18-79 years old. RESULTS: The standardised prevalence of anaemia across the WHO and the Chinese definitions was 13·63 % and 5·45 %, respectively. Regardless of which criteria was used, the standardised prevalence of anaemia was higher among women than among men and that increased with age in men, while markedly decreased after menopause in women. There were shifts in morphological patterns of anaemia using the WHO and the Chinese criteria that the standardised prevalence of microcytic anaemia was 3·74 % and 2·97 %, normocytic anaemia was 9·20 % and 2·34 %, and macrocytic anaemia was 0·75 % and 0·14 %, respectively. Besides, there were differences in the influencing factors of anaemia according to different criteria or gender. However, age, education level and renal damage were consistently significantly associated with anaemia in all participants. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia may still be a serious health problem in rural China. It is necessary to reformulate prevention and management strategies to reduce the disease burden of anaemia.

Association of nocturnal sleep duration and sleep midpoint with osteoporosis risk in rural adults: a large-scale cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence has suggested the linkage between sleep habits and several metabolic diseases, but the association of sleep factors with bone health remains unclear, especially in regions with low economic levels. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship of nocturnal sleep duration and sleep midpoint with the osteoporosis risk in a rural population. METHOD: Eligible subjects were derived from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was applied to collect sleep information including sleep initiating time and wake-up time. The bone mineral density of the calcaneus was measured by the ultrasonic bone density apparatus. Multivariable logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines were utilized to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: For 8033 participants, 1636 subjects suffered from osteoporosis. Compared with the reference group (7 ~ h group), the ORs and 95% CI of osteoporosis associated with duration of nocturnal sleep were 1.32 (1.10, 1.56), 1.59 (1.25, 2.01), and 1.82 (1.25, 2.65) in the 8 ~ h, 9 ~ h, and ≥ 10 h group, respectively. Additionally, the adjusted ORs and 95% CI were 1.20 (1.01, 1.44) in the early sleep midpoint group and 1.09 (0.92, 1.29) in the intermediate sleep midpoint, compared with the late. Furthermore, there was a joint effect of long duration of nocturnal sleep and the early sleep midpoint on osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Long duration of nocturnal sleep and early sleep midpoint were independently and jointly associated with higher risk of osteoporosis in rural areas. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Henan Rural Cohort Study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699). Date of registration: 06 July 2015. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=11375.

Effect modification of socioeconomic status on the association of exposure to famine in early life with osteoporosis in women.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to explore the effect of modification of socioeconomic status (SES) on the association between famine exposure in early life and osteoporosis in adulthood via the baseline data from the Henan Rural cohort study. METHODS: A total of 2669 exposed to famine participants were selected from the Henan Rural cohort, and the questionnaires, physical examination and bone mineral density measurement were completed. Specific birth years were used to define five groups: the fetal exposed group, early-childhood exposed group, mid-childhood exposed group, late-childhood exposed group and unexposed group. And the age-matched control group was a combination of the unexposed group and late-childhood exposed group. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilised to analyse the association of famine exposure in early life with osteoporosis in adulthood. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of osteoporosis of participants exposed to famine during the fetal period, early-childhood, mid-childhood and the age-matched group were 21.67%, 25.76%, 23.90% and 18.14%, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of participants suffering from famine during the fetal period, early-childhood and mid-childhood versus age-matched group were 1.19 (0.82-1.73), 1.40 (1.04-1.88) and 1.57 (1.16-2.13), respectively. The female participants yielded consistent results. The risk of osteoporosis was higher in more severe famine eara. Moreover, an attenuated effect of early life famine exposure on osteoporosis was observed in female participants with high SES. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to famine in early life showed a sex-specific association with an increased risk of osteoporosis in adulthood and the severity of famine may exacerbate this association. In addition, the risk could be modified by SES.

Effects of Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L. cv. Mopan) Polysaccharide and Their Carboxymethylated Derivatives on Lactobacillus Strains Proliferation and Gut Microbiota: A Comparative Study.

Persimmon is a fruit that contains sugars, vitamins, phenolic compounds, and various other nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the structure of carboxymethylated persimmon polysaccharide (CM-PFP) and its interaction with the human gut microbiota. Carboxymethyl modification of the persimmon polysaccharide (PFP) increased both the Mw and Mn, enhanced dispersion stability, and decreased thermal stability. Both PFP and CM-PFP promoted the proliferation of Lactobacillus while inhibiting the proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In the simulated fecal fermentation, the pH of PFP- and CM-PFP-containing media decreased, the content of short-chain fatty acids increased, and the abundance of intestinal flora at the phylum and genus levels changed. The relative abundance of harmful intestinal bacteria was significantly reduced in both PFP and CM-PFP groups. Furthermore, it was found that CM-PFP was more easily metabolized than PFP, glucose, and fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) and had a proliferation increase effect on Lactobacillus. Therefore, CM-PFP has a significant positive effect on both Lactobacillus proliferation and the human gut microbiota.

Glucans with Different Degrees of Polymerization from Leuconostoc mesenteroides CICC6055: Analysis of Physicochemical Properties and Intestinal Prebiotic Function.

This study explored the physicochemical properties and prebiotic activities of glucans and oligoglucans. Oligoglucans were obtained through the fermentation of Leuconostoc mesenteroides CICC6055 and the glucansucrase of strain CICC6055, while glucans were obtained only through fermentation. Thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography identified enzymatically synthesized oligoglucans with a higher yield. Differential scanning calorimetry and derivative thermogravimetry analyses revealed the heat resistance of the glucans and oligoglucans at 280-300 °C. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses demonstrated that their main chains were linked with α-1,6-glycosidic bonds accompanied by glucose residue branching. In vitro fermentation experiments demonstrated that they not only improved the contents of short-chain fatty acids but also raised the abundance of predominant flora, such as Bacteroides, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, and Proteobacteria. These results implicate glucansucrase as an efficacious tool for the enzyme synthesis of oligoglucans. Furthermore, both polysaccharides with different degrees of polymerization may be beneficial in maintaining a healthy human gut.

Study on Extraction, Physicochemical Properties, and Bacterio-Static Activity of Polysaccharides from Phellinus linteus.

We optimized an ultrasound-assisted extraction process of Phellinus linteus mycelium polysaccharides (PLPs) and studied their monosaccharide composition and bacteriostatic properties. Based on a single-factor experiment, a three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction process of PLP, using the yield of PLP as the index. The chemical composition and monosaccharide composition of PLP were determined by chemical analysis and HPLC analysis, respectively. Microscopic morphological analysis of the surface of PLP was performed via swept-surface electron microscopy. The bacteriostatic properties of PLP were determined using the spectrophotometric turbidimetric method. The results showed that the best extraction process of PLP with ultrasonic assistance achieved a result of 1:42 g/mL. In this method, the ultrasonic temperature was 60 °C, ultrasonic extraction was performed for 20 min, and the yield of PLP was 12.98%. The monosaccharide composition of PLP mainly contains glucose (Glc), mannose (Man), galactose (Gal), and glucuronic acid (GlcA). The intracellular polysaccharide of Phellinus igniarius Mycelia (PIP) is an irregular spherical accumulation, the surface is rough and not smooth, and the extracellular polysaccharide (PEP) is a crumbly accumulation. PIP has a stronger inhibitory ability for S. aureus and E. coli and a slightly weaker inhibitory effect for B. subtilis; the inhibitory effect of PEP on S. aureus, E. coli, and B. subtilis is slightly inferior to that of PIP.

Modeling the Evolution of Biological Neural Networks Based on Caenorhabditis elegans Connectomes across Development.

Knowledge of the structural properties of biological neural networks can help in understanding how particular responses and actions are generated. Recently, Witvliet et al. published the connectomes of eight isogenic Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites at different postembryonic ages, from birth to adulthood. We analyzed the basic structural properties of these biological neural networks. From birth to adulthood, the asymmetry between in-degrees and out-degrees over the C. elegans neuronal network increased with age, in addition to an increase in the number of nodes and edges. The degree distributions were neither Poisson distributions nor pure power-law distributions. We have proposed a model of network evolution with different initial attractiveness for in-degrees and out-degrees of nodes and preferential attachment, which reproduces the asymmetry between in-degrees and out-degrees and similar degree distributions via the tuning of the initial attractiveness values. In this study, we present the well-preserved structural properties of C. elegans neuronal networks across development, and provide some insight into understanding the evolutionary processes of biological neural networks through a simple network model.

[Effects of tHMGR from three different plant sources on mevalonate (MVA) pathway flux in Saccharomyces cerevisiae].

In this study, we used bioinformatic tools to analyze the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase(HMGR) genes from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Artemisia annua, and Arabidopsis thaliana. The results indicated that GuHMGR and AaHMGR contained two transmembrane regions while AtHMGR had three transmembrane regions. GuHMGR, AaHMGR, and AtHMGR all had the active center for catalysis. Three truncated HMGR genes(tHMGRs) of G. uralensi, A. annua, and A. thaliana were respectively ligated to pYES3 vector to construct the recombinant plasmids pYES3-tGuHMGR,pYES3-tAaHMGR,and pYES3-tAtHMGR. Afterwards, the control plasmid pYES3 and the three plasmids and were respectively introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cen.pk2-1 D, which yielded strains Y0, Y1, Y2, and Y3, respectively. The content of squalene, lanosterol, and ergosterol in these strains was measured by GC-MS. The relative expression of tGuHMGR, tAaHMGR, and tAtHMGR in strains Y1, Y2, and Y3 was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that the strain overexpressing tAaHMGR had the highest yield of squalene and the highest total yield of squalene, ergosterol, and lanosterol. The quantitative real-time PCR showed higher relative expression of tAaHMGR than tGuHMGR, consistent with the strain fermentation result. We selected a superior tHMGR by comparing the effects of different tHMGRs on the mevalonate(MVA) pathway flux in S. cerevisiae. The findings can provide a reference for the construction of S. cerevisiae strains with high yields of squalene and terpenoid precursors.

Elevated CO2 weakens the shift in bacterial community structure in response to 8-year soybean straw return in the same experiment.

A potentially important source for soil organic carbon (SOC) in the agricultural ecosystem is straw, straw return has been shown to affect soil bacterial communities. Facing global climate change, the response of bacterial communities to straw return will change at CO2 enrichment. In this study, we investigate the changes of bacterial communities in response to straw return (+straw) at elevated CO2 (eCO2, 700 ppm) in a long-term field experiment of northeast China. Soil samples were taken in the eighth year and analyzed by high throughput sequencing. Soil bacterial communities exhibited distinct clustering according to straw return and eCO2, while eCO2 shortened the distance of clustering between straw return and not. The relative abundances of 10 genera (Acidobacteria_norank, Candidatus_Solibacter, Gaiella, Nocardioides, Streptomyces, C0119_norank, Roseiflexus, Gemmatimonas, Mizugakiibacter and Rhodanobacter) were significantly affected by the interaction of straw × eCO2. In addition, straw return significantly decreased the relative abundances of Gaiellales_norank, Blastococcus, Psedarthrobacter, and Bacillus and increased that of Geminatimonadaceae_norank, Tepidisphaeraceae, Nitrosomonadaceae_norank, and SC-I-84_norank. These differential responses of genera abundances are illustrative of the susceptibility of bacterial communities and indicate their importance in evaluating the fate of exogenous C. The Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) analysis showed that straw return had a greater effect on the relative abundances of COG categories than eCO2. The present results point to the need to focus more strongly on the turnover and storage of straw-C during a chronic straw return in the future.

The CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis is upregulated in chronic kidney disease and contributes to angiotensin II-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.

BACKGROUND: The role of the chemokine axis, CX3CL1/CX3CR1, in the development of cardiovascular diseases has been widely speculated. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a pivotal factor promoting cardiovascular complications in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Whether there is a link between the two in CKD remains unclear. METHODS: The uremic mice were treated with losartan for 8 weeks, and the expression of aortic CX3CL1/CX3CR1 was detected. Cultured mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were stimulated with Ang II, and then CX3CR1 expression was assessed by western blot. After the targeted disruption of CX3CR1 by transfection with siRNA, the migration of VSMCs was detected by transwell assay. Finally, both the activation of Akt pathway and the expression of IL-6 were detected by western blot. RESULTS: Losartan treatment reduced the upregulation of aortic CX3CL1/CX3CR1 expression in uremic mice. In vitro, Ang II significantly upregulated CX3CR1 expression in VSMCs. Targeted disruption of CX3CR1 attenuated Ang II-induced migration of VSMCs. In addition, the use of CX3CR1-siRNA suppressed Akt phosphorylation and IL-6 production in VSMCs stimulated by Ang II. CONCLUSIONS: The aortic CX3CL1/CX3CR1 is upregulated by Ang II in CKD, and it contributes to Ang II-induced migration of VSMCs in vitro.

Isolation of antioxidative peptide from the protein hydrolysate of Caragana ambigua seeds and its mechanism for retarding lipid auto-oxidation.

BACKGROUND: Peptides can act as antioxidants in emulsion, although the mechanism involved is poorly understood. Caragana ambigua seed is a potential protein source for which the commercial applications have not been explored yet. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the bio-economic potential of C. ambigua by isolating and characterizing antioxidative peptides from the protein hydrolysate of its seeds for the purpose of protecting lipids from oxidation. RESULTS: A novel decapeptide, identified as QITEGEDGGG, was purified by high-protein liquid chromotography based on the enrichment of antioxidant fractions, and its antioxidative activity for walnut oil was evaluated in terms of its effect on oil quality, primary and secondary peroxide formation, oxidation kinetics, and structure of oil droplets. A molecular simulation involving the peptide and fatty acid was carried out aiming to understand the mechanism underlying the prevention of lipid oxidation by the peptide. The peptide effectively scavenged superoxide anions (86.46%), inhibited the rate of linoleic acid oxidation (60.37%) and delayed auto-oxidation of walnut oil. Its inhibition of lipid oxidation was attributed to the protection of phenolic compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids of walnut oil. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study will help in the exploitation of novel antioxidant peptides of lipids from woody seed-based protein sources such the seeds of C. ambigua trees. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Purification and antibacterial mechanism of fish-borne bacteriocin and its application in shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) for inhibiting Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus: is recognized as the main cause of gastroenteritis associated with consumption of seafood. Bacteriocin-producing Lactobacillus plantarum FGC-12 isolated from golden carp intestine had strong antibacterial activity toward V. parahaemolyticus. The fish-borne bacteriocin was purified by a three-step procedure consisting of ethyl acetate extraction, gel filtration chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. Its molecular weight was estimated at 4.1 kDa using SDS-PAGE. The fish-borne bacteriocin reached the maximum production at stationary phase after 20 h. It was heat-stable (30 min at 121 °C) and remained active at pH range from 3.0 to 5.5, but was sensitive to nutrasin, papain and pepsin. Its minimum inhibitory concentration for V. parahaemolyticus was 6.0 mg/ml. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the fish-borne bacteriocin disrupted cell wall of V. parahaemolyticus. The antibacterial mechanism of the fish-borne bacteriocin against V. parahaemolyticus might be described as action on membrane integrity in terms of the leakage of electrolytes, the losses of Na+K+-ATPase, AKP and proteins. The addition of the fish-borne bacteriocin to shrimps leaded V. parahaemolyticus to reduce 1.3 log units at 4 °C storage for 6 day. Moreover, a marked decline in total volatile base nitrogen and total viable counts was observed in bacteriocin treated samples than the control. It is clear that this fish-borne bacteriocin has promising potential as biopreservation for the control of V. parahaemolyticus in aquatic products.

Forsythiaside A Exhibits Anti-inflammatory Effects in LPS-Stimulated BV2 Microglia Cells Through Activation of Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway.

Inflammation and oxidative stress have been reported to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. Forsythiaside A, a phenylethanoside product isolated from air-dried fruits of Forsythia suspensa, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of forsythiaside A on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia cells and primary microglia cells were investigated. The production of inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1ß, NO and PGE2 were detected in this study. NF-κB, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression were detected by western blot analysis. Our results showed that forsythiaside A significantly inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1ß, NO and PGE2 production. LPS-induced NF-κB activation was suppressed by forsythiaside A. Furthermore, forsythiaside A was found to up-regulate the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that forsythiaside A inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory responses in BV2 microglia cells and primary microglia cells through inhibition of NF-κB activation and activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

[Removal of benzo(a)pyrene by Lactobacillus strains under simulated starch conditions].

Objective: The performances of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Lactobacillus plantarum121 and Lactobacillus pentosus ML32 in removing benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] in simulated starch conditions were studied. To provide a novel way to reduce the potential risk of B(a)P to human, several factors which affect the binding of the 3 Lactobacillus strains to the chemical toxin were investigated in starch system. Methods: The percentage of B(a)P bound by Lactobacillus strains was determined with HPLC after incubation at 37℃ for 4 h. The B(a)P-removing capabilities of Lactobacillus strains in various simulated starch systems were evaluated, including the concentrations, types and gelatinization of starch, incubation time, pH and starch-hydrolyzed products. Results: The B(a)P-binding percentages of the Lactobacillus strains increased as starch concentrations were elevated from 2% to 10%. Starch types, either from corn, potato or sweet potato, had little effects on the ability of these bacterial cells to bind B(a)P. The gelatinization of starch favored Lactobacillus strains to bind more B(a)P. The percentage of these bacterial cells to bind B(a)P grew fast at 37℃ for the first 4 h-incubation time, and then slowly increased. The three Lactobacillus strains bound more B(a)P when starches were acidified to pH of 3 to 4 or alkalified to pH of 8 to 9. The viable cells of three Lactobacillus strains removed more B(a)P via their binding than their dead cells did. Moreover, both glucose and maltose, the end products after starch is hydrolyzed, improved significantly the performance of the 3 bacterial strains to remove B(a)P. Conclusion: All of the three Lactobacillus strains perform good ability to bind B(a)P in the presences of starch. Their B(a)P-removing ability would be improved with an increased starch concentration, and the gelatinization of starch as well as the supplements of glucose and maltose. Thus, the selected Lactobacillus strains in our current work should be promising as a biological agent to reduce the occurrence of B(a)P in starch-based food products.