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Endometritis is an important factor in cattle fertility. Pathogenicity and the development of numerous reproductive diseases are directly related to bacterial imbalance in the genital tract. A commercial antibiotic can be relatively costly and can disrupt the animal's usual gut microflora; instead of plant medicals. The aim of this study was to develop an effective artificial insemination (AI) gel from traditional Thai herbs that exhibit bacterial inhibition. Twenty-four female Thai native cattle were divided into two groups: endometritis and healthy. Uterine swabs were isolated, identified, and tested for bacterial biofilm formation in vitro. Brucella ovis, Campylobacter fetus, Helicobacter trogontum, and Arcobacter cryaerophilus were found in female genitalia with endometritis based on weak biofilm information. Garcinia mangostana Linn. and Achyranthes aspera Linn. extracts were tested for antibacterial activity using agar dilution assay. A 10 μg/mL concentration of both extracts in combination was effective against the mixed bacterial isolation. The specific AI gel with those extracts was then developed (so-called GA-Gel) in vivo. The combined extracts inhibited the endometritis bacteria that expressed antimicrobial activity in vivo. Their hematological profiles indicated that the total white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes counts decreased (p=0.05). Compared to healthy cattle, the treated cattle had no significant difference in the levels of aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine. Both in vivo and in vitro indicated that the GA-Gel was effective for the prevention of an increase of bacteria and can be potentially developed to be an efficient AI gel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the physiological traits of eight lines of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cv. Black Turtle Soup, four of which were double-infected with Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus 1 and Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus 2, and four of which were endornavirus-free. Plants from all eight lines were morphologically similar and did not show statistically significant differences in plant height, wet weight, number of days to flowering and pod formation, pods per plant, pod thickness, seed size, number of seeds per pod, and anthocyanin content. However, the endornavirus-infected lines had faster seed germination, longer radicle, lower chlorophyll content, higher carotene content, longer pods, and higher weight of 100 seeds, all of which were statistically significant. The endornaviruses were not associated with visible pathogenic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus epidermidis, a coagulase-negative staphylococcus, is a prevalent skin commensal that has increasingly been recognized as a significant pathogen, particularly in hospital environments, where it is associated with device-related infections. The emergence of multi-drug resistance and its ability to form biofilms complicate the clinical management of infections caused by this organism, posing a growing public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the nasal carriage of S. epidermidis among healthy young individuals and to analyze its antibiotic resistance patterns, resistance genes, and biofilm formation capabilities. Nasal swabs were collected from 40 undergraduate students at Mahasarakham University, Thailand, aged between 20 and 22 years. A total of 38 isolates were confirmed as S. epidermidis through both phenotypic and molecular characterization. Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated resistance to various classes of antimicrobials, including beta-lactams, macrolides, and tetracyclines. Notably, five isolates exhibited methicillin resistance S. epidermidis (MRSE). Resistance genes, such as mecA, ermA, tetM, tetL, and tetK, were identified across the isolates, contributing to the observed resistance profiles. Biofilm formation assays revealed that most isolates displayed weak to moderate biofilm formation, with only one isolate demonstrating strong biofilm-forming capacity. Genetic analysis indicated a significant correlation between biofilm formation and the presence of the icaA gene, which is crucial for biofilm production. This study suggests the necessity for ongoing surveillance of nasal carriage of S. epidermidis to enhance understanding of its role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and biofilm-associated infections, particularly within healthcare settings.

The Cunninghamella genus has been utilized for the production of PUFA-rich lipids. Therefore, we investigate the impact of plant oil supplementation in the culture medium (soybean oil, rice bran oil, and perilla oil), selected based on their different fatty acid predominant, on lipid production and fatty acid composition in C. elegans (TISTR 3370). All oils significantly boosted fungal growth, each influencing distinct patterns of lipid accumulation within the cells. The cells exhibited distinct patterns of lipid accumulation, forming intracellular lipid bodies, influenced by the different oils. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were found to be the most abundant, followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in the fungal lipid cultures. Oleic acid was identified as the primary MUFA, while palmitic acid was the predominant SFA in perilla oil supplements. Remarkably, perilla oil supplement provided the highest total lipid production with arachidonic acid being exclusively detected. The percentage of PUFAs ranged from 12% in the control to 33% in soybean oil, 32% in rice bran oil, and 61% in perilla oil supplements. These findings offer valuable opportunities for advancing biotechnological applications in lipid production and customization, with implications for food and nutrition as well as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Extraction and electrophoretic analysis of viral dsRNA from plants has been used successfully to detect infections by RNA viruses. We used this approach as an initial tool to test non-cultivated plant species for the presence of endornaviruses. Foliar samples were collected from symptomless plants in various locations within East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, USA, and tested for viral dsRNA. After testing 208 plant species belonging to 74 families, five (Geranium carolinianum, Hydrocotyle umbellata, H. prolifera, Sorghum halepense, and Sisyrinchium atlanticum) yielded dsRNAs similar in size to the dsRNAs of members of the family Endornaviridae. The endornavirus nature of the dsRNAs was confirmed by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and sequencing the RT-PCR products. Sequence data were used to determine relationships of the putative endornaviruses to members of the family Endornaviridae. The putative endornaviruses were detected in both native and introduced plants species. This is the first survey on the occurrence of endornaviruses in non-cultivated plant species.

We investigated the occurrence of two plant endornaviruses, Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus 1 and Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus 2, in breeding lines, cultivars, landraces, and wild genotypes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) collected from the two centers of common bean domestication: Mesoamerica and the Andes. The two endornaviruses were detected in many genotypes of Mesoamerican origin but rarely in genotypes of Andean origin. The results suggest that these two endornaviruses were introduced into the Mesoamerican modern genotypes during common bean domestication and provide more evidence for the existence of two divergent gene pools of common bean.