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The aim of this study was to screen Bacillus strains from the guts of Scophthalmus maximus, Paralichthys olivacues, Epinephelus coioides and Clupanodon punctatus, for use as probiotics in aquaculture. Eight Bacillus strains were screened, and strain M001 was selected for probiotic study based on its antagonistic activity against multiple aquatic bacterial pathogens including Vibrio anguillarum, V.campbellii, V.vulnificus, V.parahamolyticus, Streptococcus sp. and Edwardsiella tarda. M001 was identified as B.amyloliquefaciens based on the biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene analysis. In vitro experiments revealed that M001 was able to grow at a wider range of temperature, pH and salinity and was capable to use turbot mucus as nutrient for growth. Additionally, M001 isolate greatly inhibited the growth of V.anguillarum by producing antibacterial substances and was acid tolerance, non-antibiotic resistance and non-harmful. Thereafter, the potential probiotic effect of M001 was tested in turbot by dietary administration of M001 at a dose of 10(8)CFUg(-1) diet for 42days. No significant differences of weight gain, specific growth rate and feed ratio were found in the M001-diet group of fish compared with control fish, but which increased, respectively, by 5.5%, 4.7% and 7.0% after 42days of feeding. Several digestive enzyme activities were found to increase significantly in the M001-diet group, including protease and amylase activities in hepatopancreas, protease activity in intestine and lipase activity in stomach (P

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of blood transfusion and number of pregnancies on ABO antibody titers and irregular antibodies in pregnant women with type O blood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 4,200 pregnant women with type O blood (their husbands were with non-O type blood) that were divided into transfusion group and non-transfusion group, according to whether they had a history of blood transfusion. The both groups were respectively divided into three subgroups (the number of pregnancies was one, two, and > or = three). The ABO antibody titers and irregular antibodies were detected at the same time. The effects ofABO antibody titers and irregular antibodies on hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) were discussed. RESULTS: There was no consistency of ABO antibody titers and existence of irregular antibody. The positive rates of irregular antibody of transfusion group and of the subgroup (number of pregnancies > or = three) were far higher than that of non-transfusion group and of the subgroups (number of pregnancies or = three or with history of blood transfusion, the prenatal joint detection of ABO antibody titers and irregular antibodies is helpful for accurately reflecting the in vivo antibody type and level.

In order to improving the food safety of Chinese fermented sausages, Lactobacillus sakei as starter cultures was inoculated into sausages and effects on qualities of sausages were studied. The results clearly demonstrated that due to L. sakei inoculation, lactic acid bacteria rapidly dominated the total of microflora and the growth of food-borne pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae, was completely inhibited during sausages fermentation. The pH of sausages fermented by L. sakei significantly decreased from6.31 at to 4.52, whereas that of spontaneous fermentation dropped from 6.41 to 5.42. Furthermore, the nitrite content of sausages fermented by L. sakei dropped rapidly from 100 ppm to 9.6 ppm. Accordingly, for spontaneous fermentation, the nitrite content dropped slowly from 100 ppm to 32.1 ppm. After sensory evaluation, sausages fermented by L. sakei was more likely accepted and enjoyed by consumers. L. sakei inoculation was beneficial for microbiological quality against the growth of food-borne pathogens and contributed to nitrite depletion as well as to improving sensorial characteristics.

Pig weaning period is frequently associated with infectious disease, mainly caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88. Plant extracts exert different beneficial effects and may represent antibiotic alternatives to reduce piglet infection. In this study, plant extracts and other natural substances (PENS) have been evaluated on the pig intestinal IPEC-1 cells, for potential protection against ETEC K88 induced membrane damage. Several PENS have been considered: yeast extract, yeast nucleotides, unsaturated oligo-mannuronic acid, ulvan, bromelain and three fractions of bovine colostrums, as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory compounds; daidzein and Chlorella vulgaris extract, as anti-oxidant compounds; allicin, cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol, as anti-bacterial compounds. First, possible toxic effect of PENS on cell membrane permeability was verified by assessing the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and paracellular flux of the extracellular marker phenol red. The highest non-toxic PENS concentration was added to ETEC infected cells to test the protection against membrane damage. The results showed that yeast extract, daidzein, bovine colostrum, bromelain and allicin protected the cells against the increased membrane permeability caused by ETEC, whereas the other PENS did not show this ability. Allicin protection was not due to its anti-bacterial activity, since ETEC growth was unaffected by the presence of allicin.