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Essential oils (EO) are promising feed additives for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing abilities with low toxicity. Carvacrol, thymol, and cinnamaldehyde are commonly used to synthesize EO. However, few studies focus on combining these three EO in early-weaned piglets. In the present study, 24 piglets weaned at 21 d of age were randomly divided into 2 groups (6 replicate pens per group, 2 piglets per pen). The piglets were fed a basal diet (the control group) and a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg EO (a blend consisting of carvacrol, thymol, and cinnamaldehyde, the EO group) for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, one piglet per pen was randomly chosen to be sacrificed. Growth performance, hematology, plasma biochemical indices, antioxidant capacity, intestinal epithelial development and immunity, colonic volatile fatty acids (VFA), and microbiota were determined. The results indicated that the diet supplemented with EO significantly improved average daily feed intake (ADFI, p < 0.01) and average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.05) in the day 0 to 28 period. EO supplementation led to a significant decrease in plasma lysozyme (p < 0.05) and cortisol levels (p < 0.01). Additionally, EO significantly promoted jejunal goblet cells in the villus, jejunal mucosa ZO-1 mRNA expression, ileal villus height, and ileal villus height/crypt depth ratio in piglets (p < 0.05). The ileal mucosal TLR4 and NFκB p-p65/p65 protein expression were significantly inhibited in the EO group (p < 0.05). Colonic digesta microbiota analysis revealed that bacteria involving the Erysipelotrichaceae family, Holdemanella genus, Phascolarctobacterium genus, and Vibrio genus were enriched in the EO group. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the EO blend improves ADG and ADFI in the day 0 to 28 period, as well as intestinal epithelial development and intestinal immunity in early-weaned piglets, which provides a theoretical basis for the combined use of EO in weaned piglets.

Beta-glucan has been shown to have a beneficial effect on gastrointestinal health. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of β-glucan isolated from Agrobacterium sp. ZX09 on growth performance and intestinal health of weaning pigs. A total of 108 weaned pigs (21 d of age; 6.05 ± 0.36 kg) were randomly divided into 3 groups (6 pens/group; 6 pigs/pen), and the groups were each treated with the following diets: 1) basal diet, 2) basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg olaquindox, 3) basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg β-glucan, for 21 d. Compared with the control group, pigs fed with 200 mg/kg β-glucan had greaterBW, average daily gain and duodenal villus height to crypt depth ratio (P

The changes of bioactive substances in peels and sarcocarps of three different varieties of Kadsura coccinea (Dahong, Fenhong, and Zihei) were evaluated by an in vitro simulation model. In this study, three varieties of K. coccinea fruits were digested in vitro to compare the changes and differences in antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) and bioaccessibility. The results showed that before digestion the highest content of total phenolics (TPC) (2.265 ± 0.127 mg GAE/g DW) and the highest content of flavonoids contents (TFC) (10.379 ± 0.093 mg GAE/g DW) were found in Fenhong fruit. The highest release of TPC and TFC after simulated gastric digestion was observed in the Dahong and Zihei sarcocarp, which increased by 98.7 and 20%, respectively. During oral and intestinal digestion, the content of bioactive compounds showed a decreasing trend. The radical scavenging ability of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), [2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline) (ABTS)] sulfonic acid free radical scavenging ability, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) results showed that the antioxidant capacity of K. coccinea fruits increased most significantly (26.9∼181%) in gastric digestion stage and then decreased after intestinal digestion stage. The recoveries of TPC and TFC were all increased after whole simulated digestion, as well as their bioaccessibility in sarcocarps was higher than those in peels, especially for the bioaccessibility of TPC and TFC in Dahong reached 50.53 and 48.19%, respectively. These results indicated that the peel and sarcocarp of K. coccinea had good antioxidant activity, with high bioaccessibility of phenolics could be a promising antioxidant source for the food industry.

The changes of bioactive substances in peels and sarcocarps of three different varieties of

Environmental information disclosure, as a new environmental regulatory model, is important for achieving collaborative environmental pollution management and sustainable socioeconomic development. Based on the data of listed firms in China’s A-share heavy pollution industry from 2009 to 2019, this paper empirically tested the impact of environmental information disclosure on the total factor productivity of enterprises and the contribution of digital transformation to this impact. An increase in the level of environmental information disclosure had a significant positive effect on the total factor productivity of enterprises. However, with the increase in digital transformation among enterprises, the effect of environmental information disclosure on total factor productivity improvement is gradually being replaced. The heterogeneity test results showed that the positive effect of environmental information disclosure on total factor productivity changed depending on property rights, firm size, and geographical location. The effect of environmental information disclosure was stronger for non-state firms, large firms, and firms located in the east-central region. Further mechanism tests showed that the effect was induced through innovation incentives and facilitated financing. The above results provide a valuable reference for a comprehensive understanding of the effect of environmental information disclosure on productivity and adjustment by the digital transformation of enterprises.

Mesalamine (MES), also known as 5-aminosalicylic acid, is effective in treating mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). The mechanisms of its actions are not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of MES treatment on intestinal microbiota and immune system in an dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC model in postweaning piglets. Eighteen weaned piglets were assigned randomly to the following treatments: control group (CON, distilled water), DSS group (DSS, 3% DSS), and MES group (MES, 3% DSS + 2 g/day MES). Our results showed that MES treatment alleviates DSS-induced colitis in piglets, as evidenced by a reduced diarrhea index score and increased average daily gain (P < 0.05). This is accompanied by decreased diamine oxidase activity, D-lactate level (P < 0.05), and attenuated mucosal damage. MES treatment also decreased the abundance of Methanogens and reduced colon CD11b+ macrophage and CD3+ T-cell infiltrations in piglets with DSS-induced colitis (P < 0.05). Collectively, these data indicate that MES treatment-mediated colitis protection may involve microbiota and immune cell alterations.

Multiplexed single-cell CRISPR screening has accelerated the systematic dissection of biological discoveries; however, the efficiency of CRISPR-based gene knockout has inherent limitations. Here, we present DoNick-seq, an advanced method for facilitating gene knockout and reducing off-target activity. We re-engineered two popular plasmid constructs suitable for use in pooled CRISPR screening of the single-cell transcriptome. We then used DoNick-seq to probe mTORC1 regulators and obtain genomic perturbation and transcriptome profiles from the same cell. Thus, DoNick-seq enabled us to simultaneously evaluate multiple gene interactions and the effect of amino acid depletion. By analyzing more than 20,000 cells from two cell lines, DoNick-seq efficiently identified gene targets, cell numbers, and cellular profiles. Our data also revealed the characteristics of mTORC1 negative and positive regulators, thereby shedding new insights into the mechanisms regulating cell growth and inhibition. We demonstrate that mTORC1 hyperactivation exhausts cellular free amino acids via increased proliferation ability. Furthermore, DoNick-seq identified the gene C19orf53, which mediates excessive cell proliferation, resulting in metabolic imbalance, and greatly enhances oxidative stress in response to toxins. Thus, our findings suggest that DoNick-seq facilitates high-throughput functional dissection of complex cellular responses at the single-cell level and increases the accuracy of CRISPR single-cell transcriptomics.

Animal protein sources such as fishmeal and plasma powder are excellent and indispensable sources of energy, amino acids, and minerals in animal production. Amino acid imbalance, especially methionine-to-sulfur amino acid (Met:SAA) ratio, caused by an imbalance of animal protein meal leads to growth restriction. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of imbalanced Met:SAA ratio supplementation of different animal protein source diets on growth performance, plasma amino acid profiles, antioxidant capacity and intestinal morphology in a piglet model. Twenty-four weaned piglets (castrated males; BW = 10.46 ± 0.34 kg), assigned randomly into 3 groups (8 piglets/group), were fed for 28 d. Three experimental diets of equal energy and crude protein levels were as follows: 1) a corn-soybean basal diet with a Met:SAA ratio at 0.51 (BD); 2) a plasma powder diet with a low Met:SAA ratio at 0.41 (L-MR); 3) a fishmeal diet with a high Met:SAA ratio at 0.61 (H-MR). Results revealed that compared to BD, L-MR significantly decreased (P

Piglet enteritis is a major problem that needs to be solved urgently in modern pig production. Paeonol (Pae) has been used as a novel treatment option due to its good medicinal value. This study purported to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of Pae on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in weaned piglets. A total of 36 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) weaned piglets were stochastically split into six groups: the control group, DSS group, 0.2% Pae group, 0.4% Pae group, 0.8% Pae group, and mesalazine group. The control and DSS groups were fed with a basic diet, the three Pae and mesalazine groups were fed with 0.2, 0.4, 0.8%, and 2 g mesalazine per kilogram of basic diet throughout the study. On the 15th day of the test period, the control group was gavaged with 10 ml of normal saline, while the remaining five groups were gavaged with 10 ml 5% DSS solution for 13 days. The study lasted for 27 days. The results showed that the 0.8% Pae group significantly increased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and Occludin mRNA expression in the colon of piglets (P < 0.05). The 0.2% Pae group markedly increased the average daily gain (ADG) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) mRNA expression (P < 0.05). In the 0.2% and 0.4% Pae groups, the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) was significantly reduced and the mRNA expression levels of Caspase-8, respectively, markedly enhanced the mRNA expression levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukins-4 (IL-4) (P < 0.05). In the 0.8% Pae group, the relative abundance of Campilobacterota was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). In the 0.4% Pae group, the relative abundance of Firmicutes was notably increased (P < 0.05). In the 0.2 and 0.8% Pae groups, the relative abundance of Prevotella was markedly increased (P < 0.05). In the 0.2% Pae group, the contents of propionic acid, butyric acid, and valerate acid were markedly higher (P < 0.05). Thus, it is speculated that Pae may regulate the balance of anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory factors, improve intestinal tight junction expression, reduce apoptosis, and improve intestinal microflora structure and growth performance of piglets, thereby restoring intestinal barrier function and alleviating DSS-induced UC in piglets.

Osmotic stress promotes somatic embryogenesis of Fraxinus mandshurica, which leads to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The single pieces of cotyledons of F. mandshurica were used as explants to induce somatic embryogenesis in osmotic-stress medium. Furthermore, the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content of explanted cells was varied by adding exogenous H2O2 or catalase solution to assess the effects of the exogenous H2O2 on somatic embryogenesis, intracellular H2O2 accumulation, and the relationship between signaling mediated by ROS or reactive nitrogen species. The results revealed that exogenous H2O2 (100‒300 μmol L–1) increased the number of somatic embryos. On 60th day of exogenous H2O2 (200 μmol L–1) treatment, the number of somatic embryos of explants treated, which was 136.54%, was higher than the control. Moreover, exogenous H2O2 (100 μmol L–1) significantly increased the intracellular H2O2 content and enhanced the activities of superoxidase dismutase and peroxidase. Finally, exogenous H2O2 (100 μmol L–1) activated the intracellular non-enzymatic pathway for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. The somatic embryogenesis in broadleaf trees increases with the change of endogenic ROS content, and depends on the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes. Both H2O2 and NO, as signaling molecules, were found to be involved in the process of somatic embryogenesis in broadleaf trees. In the process of exogenous H2O2 promoting somatic embryogenesis, NO synthesis depended on non-enzymatic reactions. These results provide a scientific basis for resolving the mechanism by which ROS levels are regulated during somatic embryogenesis of broadleaf trees and establish a reasonable and efficient technology system for regulating somatic embryogenesis of trees.

This study was conducted to detect the potential relationship between changed plasma metabolites, intestinal microbiota and the weaning-to-oestrous interval in multiparous sows after weaning. Multiparous sows were allocated to two groups after weaning: the oestrous group (n = 15) with a weaning-to-oestrous interval ≤7 days or the anoestrous group (n = 15) with a weaning-to-oestrous interval >14 days. The levels of plasma reproductive hormones: oestradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, plasma total protein; blood urea nitrogen; cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein; and ammonia (NH3 ) were significantly lower in the anoestrous sows compared with the oestrous sows (p < .05). The plasma metabolomics analysis identified 14 metabolites (lactose, l-cysteine, cytosine, hydantoin, palmitoleic acid, arachidic acid, linoleic acid methyl ester, α-ketoglutaric acid, N(e)-trimethyllysine, threo-β-hydroxyaspartate, 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid and others) with lower concentrations and 12 metabolites (noradrenaline, 5-dihydrocortisone, p-cresol, 1,4-cyclohexanedione, 2,3-dimethylsuccinic acid and others) with higher concentrations in the anoestrous group compared with the oestrous group (p < .05). The 16S rRNA pyrosequencing analysis showed the relative increase in abundance of the Prevotella and the Bacteroides at the genus level in the anoestrous group (p < .05). At the phylum level, lower proportions of Firmicutes and Lentisphaerae were observed in the anoestrous group (p < .05). This study provided a comprehensive assessment of metabolic differences in the blood and differences in the gut microbiome composition between anoestrous and oestrous sows. And suggesting that this profiling approach may offer new insights into explaining the alteration of the gut microbiota and blood metabolomics are correlated with sex hormone secretion and the weaning-to-oestrous interval of sows after weaning.

This study aimed to explore the effects of dietary coated cysteamine on oxidative stress and inflammation in diquat-induced weaning pigs. Twenty-four pigs were randomly assigned to three dietary groups with eight replicates: the control (fed base diet), diquat (fed base diet), and coated cysteamine + diquat groups (fed 80 mg/kg cysteamine). The experiment was conducted for 21 d, and consisted of a pre-starter period (14 d) and a starter period (7 d). Coated cysteamine treatment significantly increased (p &lt, 0.05) the final weight and average daily gain (ADG) in pigs. The contents of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), immunoglobulin G (IgG), serine (Ser), and isoleucine (Ile) were elevated (p &lt, 0.05) while the contents of albumin (ALB) and aspartic acid (Asp) were reduced (p &lt, 0.05) in the serum after coated cysteamine supplementation. Coated cysteamine supplementation resulted in greater (p &lt, 0.05) serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA in the colon, and the CuSOD mRNA expression in the jejunum (p &lt, 0.05) and colon (p = 0.073). Coated cysteamine supplementation showed an increasing trend in villus height (p = 0.060), villus height/crypt depth (V/C) (p = 0.056), the expression levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) mRNA (p = 0.061), and Occludin mRNA (p = 0.074) in the jejunum. In summary, dietary supplementation with coated cysteamine improves the intestinal barrier function of the jejunum by increasing the immunoglobulin content and the relative expression of intestinal immune factor mRNA in pigs while alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions caused by diquat.

Background:Moutan cortex radicis (MCR), as a common traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used as an antipyretic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory agent in China.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary MCR supplementation on the antioxidant capacity and intestinal health of the pigs and to explore whether MCR exerts positive effects on intestinal health via regulating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and intestinal microbiota.Methods: MCR powder was identified by LC-MS analysis. Selected 32 weaned piglets (21 d of age, 6.37 ± 0.10 kg average BW) were assigned (8 pens/diet, 1 pig/pen) to 4 groups and fed with a corn-soybean basal diet supplemented with 0, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 mg/kg MCR for 21 d. After the piglets were sacrificed, antioxidant indices, histomorphology examination, and inflammatory signaling pathway expression were assessed. The 16s RNA sequencing was used to analyze the effects of MCR on the intestinal microbiota structure of piglets.Results: Supplemental 4,000 mg/kg MCR significantly increased (P < 0.05) the average daily weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), total antioxidative capability, colonic short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentrations, and the crypt depth in the jejunum but decreased (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression levels of interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, inhibiting kappa-B kinase β (IKKβ), inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B (IκBα), and NF-κB in the jejunum and ileum. Microbiota sequencing identified that MCR supplementation significantly increased the microbial richness indices (Chao1, ACE, and observed species, P < 0.05) and the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus (P < 0.05), decreased the relative abundances of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, unidentified_Lachnospiraceae, and Enterococcus (P < 0.05) and had no significant effects on the diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson, P > 0.05). Microbial metabolic phenotypes analysis also showed that the richness of aerobic bacteria and facultative anaerobic bacteria, oxidative stress tolerance, and biofilm forming were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the richness of anaerobic bacteria and pathogenic potential of gut microbiota were reduced (P < 0.05) by MCR treatment. Regression analysis showed that the optimal MCR supplemental level for growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of weaned piglets was 3,420 ~ 4,237 mg/kg.Conclusions: MCR supplementation improved growth performance and serum antioxidant capacity, and alleviated intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the IKKβ/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway and affecting intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets.

Bacteriophages have evolved a range of anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) to escape the adaptive immune system of prokaryotes, therefore Acrs can be used as switches to regulate gene editing. Herein, we report the crystal structure of a quaternary complex of AcrIIA14 bound SauCas9–sgRNA–dsDNA at 2.22 Å resolution, revealing the molecular basis for AcrIIA14 recognition and inhibition. Our structural and biochemical data analysis suggest that AcrIIA14 binds to a non-conserved region of SauCas9 HNH domain that is distinctly different from AcrIIC1 and AcrIIC3, with no significant effect on sgRNA or dsDNA binding. Further, our structural data shows that the allostery of the HNH domain close to the substrate DNA is sterically prevented by AcrIIA14 binding. In addition, the binding of AcrIIA14 triggers the conformational allostery of the HNH domain and the L1 linker within the SauCas9, driving them to make new interactions with the target-guide heteroduplex, enhancing the inhibitory ability of AcrIIA14. Our research both expands the current understanding of anti-CRISPRs and provides additional culues for the rational use of the CRISPR-Cas system in genome editing and gene regulation.

We examined how reactive oxygen species, in the form of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), affect osmotic stress–induced programmed cell death during somatic embryogenesis from cotyledon explants of Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.). We found that substantial osmotic stress was essential for Manchurian ash somatic cells to obtain embryogenic competence. The explant cells displayed hallmarks of programmed cell death, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation to oligonucleotides during somatic embryogenesis. Increasing concentrations of plant growth regulators and sucrose in the medium increased osmotic stress thereby inducing H2O2 accumulation in the explant cells. We found that H2O2 concentration was significantly decreased in explant cells when the induction medium was modified, i.e., when reducing the concentration of sucrose, which reduces the osmotic pressure of the medium, or by withdrawing plant growth regulators at mid-culture. These treatments also decreased the proportion of explant cells undergoing programmed cell death. Accordingly, a decreased rate of somatic embryo induction was observed. These results show that PCD occurred during tissue browning and death of some explant cells during somatic embryogenesis in F. mandshurica. The ROS contributed to PCD in abiotic stress stimulated F. mandshurica cells.

This study investigated the effect of dynamic feeding models of dietary tryptophan on sows' performance during late pregnancy. RESULTS The average piglet birth weight and live farrowing rate from sows consuming a high?low tryptophan diet (0.39% Trp in the morning and 0.13% Trp in the afternoon) were decreased compared with those fed a 2?tryptophan diet (0.26% Trp in the morning and afternoon). Compared with the 2?tryptophan group, sow serum kynurenic acid and the newborn liver n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio were significantly higher, and sow serum taurine and newborn serum taurine, phosphoserine, cysteine and proline were lower in the high?low tryptophan diet group. Eighty-eight genes were differentially expressed in newborn piglets' livers between the 2?tryptophan and high?low groups. Genes related to cytotoxic effector regulation (major histocompatibility complex class I proteins), NADH oxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and tissue development were differentially expressed between these two groups. CONCLUSION Together, the results provide information on new biomarkers in serum or liver and provide novel insights into variations in the fetal liver during exogenous stimulus response and biological processes of ROS metabolism in fetuses during late pregnancy caused by a single excessive tryptophan ingestion daily in the morning. ? 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Lysozyme plays a significant role in defense against bacterial pathogens and in regulating the interactions between gut microbiota and host immune systems. Here, the effects of dietary lysozyme on the intestinal development, immunity, and colonic microbiota of piglets were comprehensively evaluated. Twenty-four seven-day-old piglets from Landrace × Yorkshire sows (n = 8 per group) received no supplementation (group A, the control), 0.5 g kg-1 lysozyme (group B), or 1.0 g kg-1 lysozyme (group C). After the 14-day treatment, piglets supplemented with 1.0 g kg-1 lysozyme had higher average weaning weight, jejunal villus height (VH), and ileal lymphocyte counts than those in the control groups (P < 0.005). Serum total protein and albumin were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.005) and immunoglobulin G tended to increase in the 0.5 g kg-1 lysozyme group (P = 0.065). Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Fibrobacteres all showed a significant increase in relative abundance after lysozyme treatment at the highest dosage (P < 0.005). At the genus level, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Treponema_2, and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group was significantly increased in the lysozyme-treated groups. Furthermore, microbial genes related to glycerolipid, propanoate, and pyruvate metabolism showed much more abundance in the 1.0 g kg-1 lysozyme group. Interleukin-4 in the colonic mucosa was significantly up-regulated, while transforming growth factor-β1 showed significant reduction in the lysozyme-treated group. Moreover, mucosal catalase and malondialdehyde in colon samples increased significantly. These results demonstrate that dietary lysozyme efficaciously improves the development of intestinal structure and functions and promotes the enrichment of beneficial microbes in the gut microbiota in terms of both composition and metabolic functions.

The growth performance, nutrient digestibility, hematology, serum chemistry, and lipoprotein concentrations of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) poults fed diets supplemented with high or recommended concentrations of niacin were investigated in this study. A total of 120 four-week-old turkey poults were randomly divided into three treatment groups with five replicates of eight birds in each group. The poult diets were supplemented with 0.0, 60, and 180 mg/kg niacin in the three treatments, termed control, recommended niacin supplementation (RNS), and high niacin supplementation (HNS), respectively. The study lasted for four weeks. The results showed that the HNS treatment reduced the feed intake and increased the body weight gain of poults. The apparent, nitrogen-corrected, and true metabolizable energy contents were the highest in the HNS-group turkey poults (P

Lysozyme has been studied as a potential alternative to antibiotics for animals in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary lysozyme on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, immune response and gut health of growing pigs.; Results: A total of 216 growing pigs (19.81 ± 0.47 kg) were fed the diets supplemented with colistin sulfate at 20 mg kg-1 (control), or lysozyme at 50 (L50) or 100 mg kg-1 (L100) diet for 30 days. The results showed that pigs fed with L100 or control had greater average daily gain and gain-to-feed ratio than pigs in the L50 group. Pigs fed with L100 or colistin had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in jejunum compared with pigs in the L50 group. Pigs fed with L100 had greater serum immunoglobulin A and jejunal secretory immunoglobulin A than control and L50, but lower serum total protein and globulin than control. No differences were observed in the messenger RNA expression of genes related to mucosal cytokines, antioxidant capacity, enzyme activity, and barrier functions among three treatments. The caecal microflora evenness was lower in the L100 group than in the control or L50 group by 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states analysis predicted that lysozyme may modify nutrient metabolism by changing intestinal microbial function of pigs.; Conclusions: Pigs supplemented with 100 mg kg-1 lysozyme had similar growth performance and intestinal morphology as pigs fed with colistin. This was likely due to the improved systemic and gut immune responses and the reduced microbiota diversity by feeding 100 mg kg-1 lysozyme. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Moutan cortex radicis (MCR), as a common traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used as an antipyretic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory agent in China. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary MCR supplementation on the antioxidant capacity and intestinal health of the pigs and to explore whether MCR exerts positive effects on intestinal health via regulating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and intestinal microbiota. Methods: MCR powder was identified by LC-MS analysis. Selected 32 weaned piglets (21 d of age, 6.37 ± 0.10 kg average BW) were assigned (8 pens/diet, 1 pig/pen) to 4 groups and fed with a corn-soybean basal diet supplemented with 0, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 mg/kg MCR for 21 d. After the piglets were sacrificed, antioxidant indices, histomorphology examination, and inflammatory signaling pathway expression were assessed. The 16s RNA sequencing was used to analyze the effects of MCR on the intestinal microbiota structure of piglets. Results: Supplemental 4,000 mg/kg MCR significantly increased (P < 0.05) the average daily weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), total antioxidative capability, colonic short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentrations, and the crypt depth in the jejunum but decreased (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression levels of interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, inhibiting kappa-B kinase β (IKKβ), inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B (IκBα), and NF-κB in the jejunum and ileum. Microbiota sequencing identified that MCR supplementation significantly increased the microbial richness indices (Chao1, ACE, and observed species, P < 0.05) and the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus (P < 0.05), decreased the relative abundances of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, unidentified_Lachnospiraceae, and Enterococcus (P < 0.05) and had no significant effects on the diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson, P > 0.05). Microbial metabolic phenotypes analysis also showed that the richness of aerobic bacteria and facultative anaerobic bacteria, oxidative stress tolerance, and biofilm forming were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the richness of anaerobic bacteria and pathogenic potential of gut microbiota were reduced (P < 0.05) by MCR treatment. Regression analysis showed that the optimal MCR supplemental level for growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of weaned piglets was 3,420 ~ 4,237 mg/kg. Conclusions: MCR supplementation improved growth performance and serum antioxidant capacity, and alleviated intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the IKKβ/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway and affecting intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets.

During implantation, the proliferation of trophectoderm cells (the outer epithelium of blastocysts) is related to conceptus elongation and placenta formation. Tryptophan (Trp) is a key regulator of embryogenesis and embryonic implantation during pregnancy. We sought to determine whether different concentrations of Trp alters porcine trophectoderm (pTr) cell proliferation. pTr cells were cultured in medium containing 40, 500, or 1000 μM Trp. The cell proliferation rate and the progression of the cells through the cell cycle were determined. To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the pTr cells, we compared mRNA transcriptomes by RNA-Seq after cell treatment with different concentrations of Trp. Some candidate DEGs were identified by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qPCR). High L-Trp levels (500 and 1000 μM) inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest. We identified 19 DEGs between the 500 μM L-Trp and 40 μM L-Trp groups and 168 DEGs between the 1000 μM L-Trp and 40 μM L-Trp groups and subsequently used qPCR to validate some genes that were upregulated or downregulated. The functional gene networks in which the DEGs were most enriched included those associated with regulating DNA replication and the cell cycle, and the majority of the DEGs in both of these functional pathways was downregulated. The results showed that the addition of 500 and 1000 μM Trp significantly increased the abundance of proteins in the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) signaling pathway. Collectively, these results indicate a novel and important role for Trp in mediating the proliferation of porcine placental cells largely via the AHR signaling pathway. Additionally, these findings help to explain the side effects of excessive Trp supplementation on placenta development and embryo growth in mammals.

The gastrointestinal tract (GT) is the major organ involved in digestion, absorption, and immunity, which is prone to oxidative destruction by high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from luminal oxidants, such as food, drugs, and pathogens. Excessive ROS will lead to oxidative stresses and disrupt essential biomolecules, which also act as cellular signaling molecules in response to growth factors, hormones, and oxygen tension changes. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are critical regulators mediating responses to cellular oxygen tension changes, which are also involved in energy metabolism, immunity, renewal, and microbial homeostasis in the GT. This review discusses interactions between HIF (mainly HIF-1α) and ROS and relevant diseases in the GT combined with our lab’s work. It might help to develop new therapies for gastrointestinal diseases associated with ROS and HIF-1α.

Multiplexed single-cell CRISPR screening has accelerated the systematic dissection of biological discoveries; however, the efficiency of CRISPR-based gene knockout has inherent limitations. Here, we present DoNick-seq, an advanced method for facilitating gene knockout and reducing off-target activity. We re-engineered two popular plasmid constructs suitable for use in pooled CRISPR screening of the single-cell transcriptome. We then used DoNick-seq to probe mTORC1 regulators and obtain genomic perturbation and transcriptome profiles from the same cell. Thus, DoNick-seq enabled us to simultaneously evaluate multiple gene interactions and the effect of amino acid depletion. By analyzing more than 20,000 cells from two cell lines, DoNick-seq efficiently identified gene targets, cell numbers, and cellular profiles. Our data also revealed the characteristics of mTORC1 negative and positive regulators, thereby shedding new insights into the mechanisms regulating cell growth and inhibition. We demonstrate that mTORC1 hyperactivation exhausts cellular free amino acids via increased proliferation ability. Furthermore, DoNick-seq identified the gene C19orf53, which mediates excessive cell proliferation, resulting in metabolic imbalance, and greatly enhances oxidative stress in response to toxins. Thus, our findings suggest that DoNick-seq facilitates high-throughput functional dissection of complex cellular responses at the single-cell level and increases the accuracy of CRISPR single-cell transcriptomics.

In this paper we design DCMA, a novel multicast membership management scheme for data center networks. Unlike traditional protocols like IGMP/MLD, DCMA leverages the characteristics of data center multicast application and the emerging software defined networking (SDN) technique to manage multicast members in an easier and better way. Multicast application master delivers the membership to the SDN controller, and the SDN controller assigns the group addresses in a coordinated way to minimize the forwarding table size in switches. In particular, by formulating the multicast group address allocation problem and capturing the relationship among forwarding entries in different switches, we design both a batch algorithm and an incremental algorithm to allocate the multicast group addresses. Evaluations based on real-world traces show that, DCMA can save almost half multicast forwarding entries in switches compared with random multicast address allocation.

Background: Moutan cortex radicis (MCR), as a common traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used as antipyretic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent in China. However, few studies have evaluated the positive effects of MCR, as a new feed additives, on alleviating weaning stress and improving intestinal health and microbiom in pigs. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary MCR supplementation on serum antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, anti-inflammatory mechanism, and microbiota in weaned piglets.Results: Supplemental 2000 mg/kg and 4000 mg/kg MCR increased (P < 0.05) the final body weight, ADG and ADFI of weaned piglets, and 2000 mg/kg MCR diet significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the F/G ratio and increased (P < 0.05) serum catalase activity compared with CON group. Also, the villus height and crypt depth in the ileum and the concentrations of total SCFA, acetic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid in the colonic contents were higher (P < 0.05) in the 2000 mg/kg and 4000 mg/kg MCR diets than CON group. Dietary MCR supplementation at 4000 mg/kg MCR significantly increased (P < 0.05) total antioxidative capability and the crypt depth in the jejunum but decreased (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression levels of Interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, inhibiting kappa B kinase β (IKKβ), inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B (IκBα) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in the jejunum and ileum. Supplemental 8000 mg/kg MCR had the higher total antioxidative capability and catalase activity in the serum but decreased (P < 0.05) the villus height and crypt depth in the jejunum compared with the CON group. MCR addition reduced (P < 0.05) serum malondialdehyde content, and tended to increase the mRNA expression of zonula occludens-1 in the ileum (P = 0.066) compared to the CON group. Microbiota sequencing identified the microbial richness indices (Chao1, ACE, and observed species), the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were increased (P < 0.05), and the relative abundances of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, unidentified_Lachnospiraceae and Enterococcus were reduced (P < 0.05) by MCR supplemented. Microbial metabolic phenotypes analysis also showed that the richness of aerobic bacteria and facultative anaerobic bacteria, oxidative stress tolerance, and biofilm forming were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the richness of anaerobic bacteria and pathogenic potential of gut microbiota were reduced (P < 0.05) by MCR treatment. Conclusions: In antibiotic-free diets, MCR supplementation improved growth performance and serum antioxidant capacity, alleviated intestinal inflammatory by inhibiting IKKβ/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway and affecting intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary insect powder supplementation as a protein source on plasma amino acid profiles, intestinal amino acid transport and sensing in a piglet model. A total of 144 weanling piglets were randomly assigned to four experimental diets for two phases (Days 1&ndash, 28 and Days 29&ndash, 56), to assess the effects on amino acid profiles and transportation in the segments of the intestine. The groups were basal diet (control), control diet plus Tenebrio molitor (TM), control diet plus Musca domestica larvae (MDL) and control diet plus Zophobas morio (ZM). The plasma free amino acid levels were stable comparable among treatments, except that the lysine level was significantly reduced by dietary MDL and ZM supplementation in the first phase (p &lt, 0.05). In the 1st phase, the sensitivity of intestinal segments to the regulation of the amino acid level by insect powder supplementation follows sequence: colon &gt, ileum &gt, jejunum, while the order switched to jejunum &gt, colon &gt, ileum in the 2nd phase. The relative RNA expressions of mitogen-activated protein 4 kinase 3 (MAP4K3), sodium dependent neutral amino acid transporter2 (SNAT2), the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) and taste 1 receptor member 1/3 (T1R3) in the segments of the intestine were affected by different dietary insect powder supplementation. G protein-coupled receptor family C group 6 member A (GPRC6A) level in the jejunal and colonic mucosa was upregulated by MDL supplementation (p &lt, 0.05). These results indicated that dietary insects improved the metabolism of the amino acid in the prophase (the 1st phase) through regulating the sensing gene and mTOR signal pathway in intestinal mucosa by targeting different receptors. The finding demonstrates that the insect powder is a potentially promising source for protein deposition.

Ethanolamine(EA) often occurs at a relatively high concentration within the inflamed gut of IBD patients. To investigate the role of EA in colonic inflammation and host-microbiome dysbiosis, thirty-six ICR mice were treated with 3% DSS for a week to generate acute intestinal inflammation and then supplied with 0μM, 500μM (LowEA), and 3000 μM (HighEA) in drinking water for two weeks, after that,16s RNA sequencing was applied in characterizing the changes in colonic microbiota driven by different EA levels. An inflamed colonic organoid model via 3% DSS treatment was also established for further verification of these in vivo findings.EA significantly reduced proximal colonic crypt depth but increased distal colonic villus height in HighEA group. The protein and mRNA expression of occludin and Reg3β, BD1, BD2, and MUC2were significantly up-regulated in EA treated groups. EA decreased mucosal inflammation-related cytokines levels (IL1, IL6, IL17, TNFα, and INFγ) and increased the significantly increased concentration of sIgA. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were significantly down-regulated in the highEA group. EA increased the relative abundance of Blautia, Roseburia, Lactobacillus, Faecalibaculum, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Alloprevotella, and Lachnoclostridum.and thus microbial metabolic pathways including Oxidative phosphorylation, Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, Arginine and proline metabolism, Folate biosynthesis, and Biotin metabolism were more abundant in LowEA group than those in control. EA up-regulated the protein or mRNA expression of TLR4/MyD88 in colonic tissues and the DSS-treated colonic organoid model. This study firstly demonstrated that ethanolamine in altering host-microbiome dysbiosis, which may provide new insights into the role of dietary lipids in IBD.ImportanceInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects ~3.1 million people in the USA and is increasing in incidence worldwide. IBD pathogenesis has been associated with gut microbiome dysbiosis characterized as a decrease in gut microbial diversity. Extensive works have demonstrated the roles of dietary fiber, short-chain fatty acids, and aromatic amino acids in altering the composition of gut microbiota to restore immune homeostasis and alleviate inflammation via diverse mechanisms in IBD. However, little is known about essential sphingolipids like ethanolamine (EA), an essential compound in the CDP-ethanolamine pathway for phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in both intestinal cells and bacteria. PE synthesis deficiency can ultimately result in a loss of membrane integrity and metabolic disorders in IBD. Our results demonstrate that ethanolamine could improve colonic barrier functions and inflammatory immunoreactions via shifting microbiome dysbiosis, which provides new insights into the role of dietary lipids in IBD.

Background Coated nano zinc oxide (Cnz) is a new feed or food additive, which is a potential replacement for a pharmacological dose level of ZnO. This study evaluated the positive effects of different concentrations of Cnz on the intestinal bacterial core, enterobacterial composition and mucosal barrier function in a pig model. Results Microbiota sequencing results showed that Cnz could significantly alter the intestinal microbiota composition and metabolism. Besides increasing the richness indices (ACE and Chao1), 10% Cnz could protect the intestinal mucosal barrier through increasing the expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1 in the small intestine, increase the abundance of Lachnospiraceae UCG-004 and decrease the abundance of Ruminococcus flavefaciens compared to high ZnO diet and 5% Cnz material. Conclusions Cnz material at 10% supplementation is more effective than a level of 5% Cnz in increasing intestinal barrier through affecting gut microbiota. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Iron-deficiency anemia is a public health concern that frequently occurs in pregnant mammals and neonatal offspring. Ferrous N-carbamylglycinate chelate (Fe-CGly) is a newly designed iron fortifier with proven effects in iron-deficient rats and weanling piglets. However, the effects of this new compound on pregnant mammals are unknown. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Fe-CGly on sow reproductive performance and iron status of both sows and neonatal piglets. A total of 40 large-white sows after second parity were randomly assigned to two groups (n=20). They were receiving a diet including 80 mg Fe/kg as FeSO4 or Fe-CGly, respectively, from day 85 of gestation to parturition. The serum (day 110 of pregnancy) and placentas of sows were sampled. Litter size, mean weight of live born piglets, birth (live) litter weight, number of live born piglets, and the number of still-born piglets, mummies, and weak-born piglets were recorded. Once delivered, eight litters were randomly selected from the 20 litters per treatment, and one new-born male piglet (1.503±0.142 kg) from each selected litter was slaughtered within 3 h after birth from the selected litters, without colostrum ingestion. The serum, longissimus muscle, liver and kidneys of the piglets were collected. The iron status of the serum samples and the messenger RNA level of iron-related genes in the placenta, liver and kidney were analyzed. The results showed that litter weight of live born piglets was higher (P=0.030) in the Fe-CGly group (19.86 kg) than in the FeSO4 group (17.34 kg). Fe-CGly significantly increased placental iron concentration (P

The effects of an exogenous nitric oxide donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP), a NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxode (PTIO) and carboxy-PTIO potassium salt (cPTIO) on the embryo germination of Sorbus pohuashanensis were studied in a petri dish test. SNP at 0.5–5 mmol L−1 increased germination percentage, mean time to germination, germination index and germination energy compared with the control to different degrees. Treatment with 2 mmol L−1 SNP improved germination most significantly; embryo germination percentage for mother tree 1 (91.11%) and mother tree 2 (64.44%) were much higher than the control. In addition, excessive SNP levels did not enhance embryo germination. Combined treatment with SNP and an NO scavenger delayed embryo germination. Treatment with cPTIO inhibited embryo germination; germination percentage was 42.22% and was lower than that of the control. These results show that low concentrations of exogenous NO can enhance the embryo germination of S. pohuashanensis, providing a simple, effective way for promoting germination of S. pohuashanensis.

Coated cysteamine hydrochloride (CC) was applied as a feed additive in animal production. The influence and the mechanisms of CC used as a feed additive in promoting meat quality in finishing pigs were investigated.; Results: Dietary CC supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the a* and H* values and reduced (P < 0.05) the L* value in the longissimus dorsi muscles at 48 h postmortem (P < 0.05). The deoxymyoglobin content was enhanced (P < 0.05) and the metmyoglobin and malondialdehyde contents were reduced (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the dietary CC. Pigs fed a dietary CC of 0.035 g kg-1 had a lower cooking loss (P < 0.05) and a higher a* (24 h) value in the longissimus dorsi muscles than pigs on control treatment. The messenger RNA expression of superoxide dismutase 1 was upregulated (P < 0.05) in the longissimus dorsi.; Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with CC could improve antioxidant status and delay meat discoloration by improving glutathione levels and antioxidase activity after longer chill storage (for 48 h after slaughter). Dietary supplementation with CC at 0.035 g kg-1 may promote the stability of pork color by reducing oxidation. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Two experiments were designed to explore the effects of coated zinc (Zn) oxide nanoparticles (NZO) on the diarrhea ratio, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and zinc excretion in growing pigs. In Exp.1, 270 growing pigs (21.88 ± 0.8 kg initial BW) were allocated to three treatments, each for 30 d: (i) control group (CG), basal diet containing Zn-free premix + 100 mg Zn/kg from ZnSO(4); (ii) high Zn (HZN), basal diet containing Zn-free premix + 2,250 mg Zn/kg from ZnO; (iii) coated nano ZnO (CNZO), basal diet containing Zn-free premix + 100 mg Zn/kg from coated NZO. In Exp.2, 21 crossbred growing pigs (17.04 ± 0.01 kg initial BW) were allocated to three treatments, each for 28 d: (i) HZN, basal diet containing Zn-free premix + 2,250 mg Zn/kg from ZnO; (ii) low concentration of nano ZnO (LNZO), basal diet containing Zn-free premix + 100 mg Zn/kg from 5% coated NZO material; (iii) high concentration of nano ZnO (HNZO), basal diet containing Zn-free premix + 100 mg Zn/kg from 10% coated NZO material. In Exp. 1, compared with the CG diet, CNZO significantly reduced the diarrhea rate (P < 0.05) and increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05). Compared with HZN, CNZO decreased the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase, as well as the fecal zinc concentration (P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, pigs fed LNZO or HNZO had an increased final BW, average daily weigh and diarrhea rate, and a decreased level of Zn in the plasma, liver, and feces on day 14 compared with the HZN group (P < 0.05). The villous height and villous height/crypt depth ratio of duodenum were higher (P < 0.05) in the HZN group than the HNZO group, whereas the higher villous height of jejunum was observed in the LNZO group compared with that in the HNZO group (P < 0.05). We found that CNZO (100 mg/kg Zn) could improve the antioxidant capacity and reduce fecal Zn emission. However, the diarrhea rate was not effectively suppressed when compared with the HNZO supplementation. Furthermore, coated NZO material of 5% concentration is more effective in improving the morphology of intestinal villus.

Background The current study was carried out to provide a reference for monitory of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in feed ingredients and complete feeds were collected from different Province in China from 2013 to 2015. Methods A total of 443 feed ingredients, including 220 corn, 24 wheat, 24 domestic distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS), 55 bran, 20 wheat shorts and red dog, 37 imported DDGS, 34 corn germ meal and 29 soybean meal as well as 127 complete feeds including 25 pig complete feed (powder), 90 pig complete feed (pellet), six duck complete feed and six cattle complete feed were randomly collected from different Province in China, respectively, by high-performance chromatography in combined with UV or fluorescence analysis. Results The incidence rates of AFB1, ZEN and DON contamination of feed ingredients and complete feeds were 80.8, 92.3 and 93.9 %, respectively. The percentage of positive samples for DON ranged from 66.7 to 100 %. Domestic DDGS and imported DDGS presented the most serious contamination AFB1, ZEN and DON contamination levels of feeds ranged from 61.5 to 100 %, indicated that serious contamination over the studied 3-year period. Conclusion The current data provide clear evidence that AFB1, ZEN and DON contamination of feed ingredients and complete feeds in different Province in China is serious and differs over past 3-year. The use of corn, domestic DDGS, imported DDGS and corn germ meal, which may be contaminated with these three mycotoxins, as animal feed may triggered a health risk for animal. Feeds are most contaminated with DON followed by ZEN and AFB1. Mycotoxins contamination in feed ingredients and complete feeds should be monitored routinely in China.

The CRISPR-Cas systems, as exemplified by CRISPR-Cas9, are RNA-guided adaptive immune systems used by bacteria and archaea to defend against viral infection. The CRISPR-Cpf1 system, a new class 2 CRISPR-Cas system, mediates robust DNA interference in human cells. Although functionally conserved, Cpf1 and Cas9 differ in many aspects including their guide RNAs and substrate specificity. Here we report the 2.38 Å crystal structure of the CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-bound Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND2006 Cpf1 (LbCpf1). LbCpf1 has a triangle-shaped architecture with a large positively charged channel at the centre. Recognized by the oligonucleotide-binding domain of LbCpf1, the crRNA adopts a highly distorted conformation stabilized by extensive intramolecular interactions and the (Mg(H2O)6)(2+) ion. The oligonucleotide-binding domain also harbours a looped-out helical domain that is important for LbCpf1 substrate binding. Binding of crRNA or crRNA lacking the guide sequence induces marked conformational changes but no oligomerization of LbCpf1. Our study reveals the crRNA recognition mechanism and provides insight into crRNA-guided substrate binding of LbCpf1, establishing a framework for engineering LbCpf1 to improve its efficiency and specificity for genome editing.

The utilization of urea in camels has beneficial and negative effects. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of different levels of urea supplementation on nutrients intake, digestibility, growth performance, feed efficiency and economics in growing camels fed roughage based complete pellet diets. In the present study, eighteen growing camels with an average live body weight of 306.17 ± 2.05 kg were randomly assigned in three treatments: T1 = roughage complete pellet diet without urea, T2 = T1 plus 1% urea, and T3 = T1 plus 2% urea. The results showed that the urea supplementation significantly affected average daily feed and nutrient intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P 0.05). Similarly, digestion coefficient of DM, CP, ether extract (EE), crude fiber (CF) and ADF was influenced by increasing urea level (P 0.05). The intake of digestive nutrients was similar among all treatment groups. Total body live weight gain and average daily gain were significantly higher in urea supplemented groups (P

Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaSR) represents a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel diseases and strongly prefers aromatic amino acid ligands. We investigated the regulatory effects of dietary supplementation with aromatic amino acids – tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine (TPT) – on the CaSR signalling pathway and intestinal inflammatory response. The in vivo study was conducted with weanling piglets using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a randomised complete block design. Piglets were fed a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with TPT and with or without inflammatory challenge. The in vitro study was performed in porcine intestinal epithelial cell line to investigate the effects of TPT on inflammatory response using NPS-2143 to inhibit CaSR. Dietary supplementation of TPT alleviated histopathological injury and decreased myeloperoxidase activity in intestine challenged with lipopolysaccharide. Dietary supplementation of TPT decreased serum concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, TNF-α), as well as the mRNA abundances of pro-inflammatory cytokines in intestine but enhanced anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and transforming growth factor-β mRNA levels compared with pigs fed control diet and infected by lipopolysaccharide. Supplementation of TPT increased CaSR and phospholipase Cβ2 protein levels, but decreased inhibitor of NF-κB kinase α/β and inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) protein levels in the lipopolysaccharide-challenged piglets. When the CaSR signalling pathway was blocked by NPS-2143, supplementation of TPT decreased the CaSR protein level, but enhanced phosphorylated NF-κB and IκB levels in IPEC-J2 cells. To conclude, supplementation of aromatic amino acids alleviated intestinal inflammation as mediated through the CaSR signalling pathway.

Walk detection (WD) and step counting (SC) have become popular applications in the recent emergence of wearable devices. These devices monitor user states and process data from MEMS-based accelerometers and optional gyroscope sensors. Various algorithms have been proposed for WD and SC, which are generally sensitive to the contexts of applications, i.e., (1) the locations of sensor placement, (2) the sensor orientations, (3) the user&rsquo, s walking patterns, (4) the preprocessing window sizes, and (5) the sensor sampling rates. A thorough understanding of how these dynamic factors affect the algorithms&rsquo, performances is investigated and compared in this paper. In particular, representative WD and SC algorithms are introduced according to their design methodologies. A series of experiments is designed in consideration of different application contexts to form an experimental dataset. Different algorithms are then implemented and evaluated on the dataset. The evaluation results provide a quantitative performance comparison indicating the advantages and weaknesses of different algorithms under different application scenarios, giving valuable guidance for algorithm selection in practical applications.

BackgroundCysteamine was coated to cover its odor and maintain the stability. However, coated cysteamine (CC) has not been clearly evaluated for its effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa status. We hypothesize that the appropriate CC supplementation in diet impacts the stomach and intestinal mucosa variously through regulating the morphology, apoptosis, and oxidative stress status in model of pigs.ResultsThe results showed that villus height increased (P P P P P P P P P ConclusionsAlthough moderate dietary coated cysteamine showed positive effects on GI mucosal morphology, apoptosis, and oxidative stress status, the excess coated cysteamine may cause apoptosis leading to GI damage in pigs.

Lysozyme has been studied as a potential alternative to antibiotics for animals in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary lysozyme on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, immune response and gut health of growing pigs.A total of 216 growing pigs (19.81 ± 0.47 kg) were fed the diets supplemented with colistin sulfate at 20 mg kgPigs supplemented with 100 mg kg

Background: Because human breast milk is a rich source of phospholipids and gangliosides and breastfed infants have improved learning compared with formula-fed infants, the importance of dietary phospholipids and gangliosides for brain development is of interest. Objective: We sought to determine the effects of phospholipids and gangliosides on brain and cognitive development. Methods: Male and female piglets from multiple litters were artificially reared and fed formula containing 0% (control), 0.8%, or 2.5% Lacprodan PL-20 (PL-20; Arla Foods Ingredients), a phospholipid/ganglioside supplement, from postnatal day (PD) 2 to PD28. Beginning on PD14, performance in a spatial T-maze task was assessed. At PD28, brain MRI data were acquired and piglets were killed to obtain hippocampal tissue for metabolic profiling. Results: Diet affected maze performance, with piglets that were fed 0.8% and 2.5% PL-20 making fewer errors than control piglets (80% vs. 75% correct on average; P < 0.05) and taking less time to make a choice (3 vs. 5 s/trial; P < 0.01). Mean brain weight was 5% higher for piglets fed 0.8% and 2.5% PL-20 (P < 0.05) than control piglets, and voxel-based morphometry revealed multiple brain areas with greater volumes and more gray and white matter in piglets fed 0.8% and 2.5% PL-20 than in control piglets. Metabolic profiling of hippocampal tissue revealed that multiple phosphatidylcholine-related metabolites were altered by diet. Conclusion: In summary, dietary phospholipids and gangliosides improved spatial learning and affected brain growth and composition in neonatal piglets.

The gut microbiota influences the health of the host, especially with regard to gut immune homeostasis and the intestinal immune response. In addition to serving as a nutrient enhancer, L-tryptophan (Trp) plays crucial roles in the balance between intestinal immune tolerance and gut microbiota maintenance. Recent discoveries have underscored that changes in the microbiota modulate the host immune system by modulating Trp metabolism. Moreover, Trp, endogenous Trp metabolites (kynurenines, serotonin, and melatonin), and bacterial Trp metabolites (indole, indolic acid, skatole, and tryptamine) have profound effects on gut microbial composition, microbial metabolism, the host's immune system, the host-microbiome interface, and host immune system-intestinal microbiota interactions. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediates the regulation of intestinal immunity by Trp metabolites (as ligands of AhR), which is beneficial for immune homeostasis. Among Trp metabolites, AhR ligands consist of endogenous metabolites, including kynurenine, kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid, and cinnabarinic acid, and bacterial metabolites, including indole, indole propionic acid, indole acetic acid, skatole, and tryptamine. Additional factors, such as aging, stress, probiotics, and diseases (spondyloarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer), which are associated with variability in Trp metabolism, can influence Trp-microbiome-immune system interactions in the gut and also play roles in regulating gut immunity. This review clarifies how the gut microbiota regulates Trp metabolism and identifies the underlying molecular mechanisms of these interactions. Increased mechanistic insight into how the microbiota modulates the intestinal immune system through Trp metabolism may allow for the identification of innovative microbiota-based diagnostics, as well as appropriate nutritional supplementation of Trp to prevent or alleviate intestinal inflammation. Moreover, this review provides new insight regarding the influence of the gut microbiota on Trp metabolism. Additional comprehensive analyses of targeted Trp metabolites (including endogenous and bacterial metabolites) are essential for experimental preciseness, as the influence of the gut microbiota cannot be neglected, and may explain contradictory results in the literature.

Tryptophan (Trp) plays an essential role in pig behavior and growth performances. However, little is known about Trp's effects on tight junction barrier and intestinal health in weaned pigs. In the present study, twenty-four (24) weaned pigs were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments with 8 piglets/treatments. The piglets were fed different amounts of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) as follows: 0.0%, 0.15, and 0.75%, respectively, named zero Trp (ZTS), low Trp (LTS), and high Trp (HTS), respectively. No significant differences were observed in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain: feed (G/F) ratio between the groups. After 21 days of the feeding trial, results showed that dietary Trp significantly increased (P0.05) crypt depth and significantly decreased (P0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH/CD) in the jejunum of pig fed HTS. In addition, pig fed HTS had higher (P0.05) serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate. Furthermore, pig fed HTS significantly decreased mRNA expression of tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1 but not claudin-1 in the jejunum. The number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and goblet cells were not significantly different (P0.05) between the groups. Collectively, these data suggest that dietary Trp supplementation at a certain level (0.75%) may negatively affect the small intestinal structure in weaned pig.

During pregnancy, tryptophan (Trp) is required for several purposes, and Trp metabolism varies over time in the mother and fetus. Increased oxidative stress (OS) with high metabolic, energy and oxygen demands during normal pregnancy or in pregnancy-associated disorders has been reported. Taking the antioxidant properties of Trp and its metabolites into consideration, we made four hypotheses. First, the use of Trp and its metabolites is optional based on their antioxidant properties during pregnancy. Second, dynamic Trp metabolism is an accommodation mechanism in response to OS. Third, regulation of Trp metabolism could be used to control/attenuate OS according to variations in Trp metabolism during pregnancy. Fourth, OS-mediated injury could be alleviated by regulation of Trp metabolism in pregnancy-associated disorders. Future studies in normal/abnormal pregnancies and in associated disorders should include measurements of free Trp, total Trp, Trp metabolites, and activities of Trp-degrading enzymes in plasma. Abnormal pregnancies and some associated disorders may be associated with disordered Trp metabolism related to OS. Mounting evidence suggests that the investigation of the use of Trp and its metabolites in pregnancy will be meanful.

Coated cysteamine hydrochloride (CC) was applied as a feed additive in animal production. The influence and the mechanisms of CC used as a feed additive in promoting meat quality in finishing pigs were investigated.Dietary CC supplementation increased (P0.05) the a* and H* values and reduced (P0.05) the L* value in the longissimus dorsi muscles at 48 h postmortem (P0.05). The deoxymyoglobin content was enhanced (P0.05) and the metmyoglobin and malondialdehyde contents were reduced (P0.05) in pigs fed the dietary CC. Pigs fed a dietary CC of 0.035 g kgDietary supplementation with CC could improve antioxidant status and delay meat discoloration by improving glutathione levels and antioxidase activity after longer chill storage (for 48 h after slaughter). Dietary supplementation with CC at 0.035 g kg

A study was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary high or recommended nicotinic acid (niacin) supplementation on growth performance, total tract nutrient digestibility, hematology, serum chemistry, and lipoprotein concentrations in the serum and meat of growing turkeys. Turkeys were assigned to three treatments on weight equalisation basis with five replicates of eight turkeys in each group. Experimental diets were: no supplemental niacin (Control), a diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg niacin termed as recommended niacin supplementation and a diet supplemented with 180 mg/kg niacin termed as high niacin supplementation (HNS). The experiment lasted for the grower (Day 56–84) and finisher phases (Day 84–112) of the birds. Dietary inclusion of HNS increased (P < 0.01) bodyweight gain, metabolisable energy (Days 84 and 112), dressing percentage and retail cut parts of turkeys (Day 112) in relation to the Control-fed turkeys. Furthermore, least white blood cell count and higher concentrations of packed cell volume, red blood cells and hemoglobin (P < 0.01) were found in turkeys fed HNS on Days 84 and 112. Similarly, turkeys in the HNS group had improved serum constituents including serum protein, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphate. The blood and meat lipid profile analysis showed that low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol were least (P < 0.05) in turkeys fed HNS. Collectively, dietary high supplementation of niacin (180 mg/kg) improves production performances, reduces serum and meat fat content and improve indicators of stress resistance ability in growing turkeys.

Tryptophan, a nutritionally essential amino acid, is active in the regulation of immune responses in animals. The products of tryptophan metabolism, such as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, kynurenine, quinolinic acid, and melatonin, may improve immunity in an organism and induce anti-inflammatory responses. The immune tolerance processes mediated by tryptophan metabolites are not well understood. Recent studies have reported that the enzymes that break down tryptophan through the kynurenine metabolic pathway are found in numerous cell types, including immunocytes. Moreover, some tryptophan metabolites have been shown to play a role in the inhibition of T lymphocyte proliferation, elevation of immunoglobulin levels in the blood, and promotion of antigen-presenting organization in tissues. This review summarizes the effects and mechanisms of tryptophan and metabolites in immune functions in livestock and poultry. It also highlights the areas in which our understanding of the role(s) of tryptophan is incomplete and suggests possible future research that might prove of benefit to livestock and poultry producers.