Neuroprotective Metabolites from Vietnamese Marine Derived Fungi of Aspergillus and Penicillium Genera

Low molecular weight secondary metabolites of marine fungi Aspergillus flocculosus, Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium sp. from Van Phong and Nha Trang Bays (Vietnam) were studied and a number of polyketides, bis-indole quinones and terpenoids were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. Stereochemistry of some compounds was established based on ECD data. A chemical structure of asterriquinone F (6) was thoroughly described for the first time. Anthraquinone (13) was firstly obtained from a natural source. Neuroprotective influences of the isolated compounds against 6-OHDA, paraquat and rotenone toxicity were investigated. 4-Hydroxyscytalone (1), 4-hydroxy-6-dehydroxyscytalone (2) and demethylcitreoviranol (3) have shown significant increasing of paraquat- and rotenone-treated Neuro-2a cell viability and anti-ROS activity.     

AMF促进植物吸收矿质元素的生理机制及对土壤硫素的影响

由于人口不断增长,人们要快速得到高产高质粮食的要求迫切,大量使用化肥,导致了有害物质残留,土壤或水污染,土壤板结或某些营养元素相对匮乏等一系列环境问题。丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza, AM)是土壤内常见的共生结构,由AM真菌(AMF)与土壤根系形成。已有研究表明其可通过分泌代谢物,增大根系与土壤接触面积,调节某些土壤元素存在形式等多种途径,影响植物对土壤元素的吸收转运。硫是维持植物生长发育的必需元素之一,可由于植物对S的需要并不如N,P,K大量,现代农业在对土壤进行施肥过程中往往将其忽略,因此土壤缺S正逐渐成为中国农业发展的限制因素。为了解决以上问题,本文将主要对AMF影响植物吸收土壤元素的途径及生理机制进行总结分析。并根据其作用方式特点进一步分析AM共生对植物吸收转运硫素的影响,指出AMF作为生物化肥的可行性,以期为解决现代化肥的替代问题以及土壤缺硫问题提供新的思路。     

养分管理对安溪茶园土壤肥力及茶叶品质的影响

安溪是铁观音的主产区,茶园养分管理滞后已成为该地区茶叶生产的瓶颈,本研究旨在为该地区茶园的养分管理提供科学依据。试验于2015年在安溪县采集了50个茶园的茶青与土壤样品,测定了土壤5项主要肥力指标和茶青中9种主要次生代谢物含量;并根据茶农氮肥用量调研数据,初步将茶园养分管理划分为:少量、中量和过度型等三种方式。限制性主坐标轴分析发现,此分类方式可解释34.4%(P0.001)茶园土壤肥力参数的总体差异,说明此分类方式能反映出不同茶园养分管理的总体水平;并且,养分管理对表层土壤有效磷的影响最为显著。进一步分析表明,养分管理对茶青综合品质的影响可解释品质总差异的7.48%(P0.001);大部分茶青次生代谢物在中量型管理下含量最高。说明养分管理影响安溪茶园土壤的肥力状况,施肥量过高或过低均不利于高品质茶叶的生产,该地区的建议施氮量约为200～400 kg·hm~(–2)·a~(–1)。     

Suppression of ovarian progesterone production in dairy cows using an implant of GnRH-agonist (deslorelin) for the purpose of evaluating progesterone metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential of an implant of a GnRH-agonist (deslorelin) to create a progesterone free animal suitable for studying progesterone (P4) metabolism in intact cows by measuring blood P4 and faecal P4 metabolites. METHODS: Experiment 1: Eighteen non-lactating cycling Holstein-Friesian cows, 4 to 7 years old, were allocated to one of three groups to study plasma P4 concentrations preceding an intravaginal insert. These groups comprised: i) a deslorelin group (GnRH-agonist implanted); ii) a PGF group receiving two injections of prostaglandin (PGF2alpha) 12 days apart; and, iii) an ovariectomised (OVX) group. An intravaginal device (CIDR) was inserted into the vagina of each animal and left in place for 11 days. Plasma P4 concentrations were measured during the study period. Experiment 2: Twelve non-lactating cycling Holstein-Friesian cows, 4 to 7 years old, were allocated to two groups: i) a deslorelin group (GnRH-agonist implanted); and ii) an ovariectomised group. Plasma P4 and faecal P4 metabolites (20-oxo-pregnanes, 20alpha-OH and 20beta-OH) were monitored for a period of 5 weeks. RESULTS: Experiment 1: Average plasma P4 concentration did not differ between the three groups (1.28, 1.43 and 1.55 ng/mL for deslorelin, OVX and PGF cows, respectively, P = 0.8) during the period of supplementation. Experiment 2: There was no difference in plasma P4 (mean plasma P4 < 0.02 ng/mL, P = 0.9) and faecal P4 metabolites between deslorelin and OVX cows 2 weeks after the implantation (P = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that a GnRH-agonist (deslorelin) implant may be used as an alternative to ovariectomy to create a progesterone free animal suitable for studying the metabolism of administered P4.     

液相色谱-电喷雾质谱联用检测蜂蜜中四种硝基呋喃类代谢物

介绍了高效液相色谱电喷雾多级质谱(LC/MSn) 同时快速、准确测定蜂蜜中呋喃西林、呋喃唑酮、呋喃它酮和呋喃妥英4种硝基呋喃类抗生素代谢物。硝基呋喃类代谢物在酸性条件下经过邻硝基苯甲醛衍生化, 液相萃取后经色谱分离, 利用二级质谱进行定性和定量。加标样品平均回收率达到64% ~79%, 定量下限(LOQ) 为0 1~1μg·kg-1, 检测限(LOD) 达到0 05~0 5μg·kg-1。该方法测定结果满足欧盟(EU)对进口动物源性食品中硝基呋喃类抗生素的残留要求。     

Based serum metabolomics analysis reveals simultaneous interconnecting changes during chicken embryonic development

Metabolic disorder is a major health problem and is associated with a number of metabolic diseases. Due to native hyperglycaemia and resistance to exogenous insulin, chickens as a model had used in the studies of adipose tissue biology, metabolism and obesity. But no detailed information is available about the comprehensive changes of serum metabolites at different stages of chicken embryonic development. This study employed LC/MS‐QTOF to determine the changes of major functional metabolites at incubation day 14 (E14d), 19 (E19d) and hatching day 1 (H1d), and the associated pathways of differential metabolites during chicken embryonic development were analysed using Metabolite Set Enrichment Analysis method. Results showed that 39 metabolites were significantly changed from E14d to E19d and 68 metabolites were significantly altered from E19d to H1d in chicken embryos. Protein synthesis was promoted by increasing the concentrations of L‐glutamine and threonine, and gonadal development was promoted through increasing oestrone content from E14d to E19d in chicken embryos, which indicated that serum glutamine, threonine and oestrone contents may be considered as the candidate indicators for assessment of early embryonic development. 2‐oxoglutaric acid mainly contributed to enhancing the citric cycle, and it plays an important role in improving the growth of chicken embryos at the late development; the decreasing of L‐glutamine, L‐isoleucine and L‐leucine contents from E19d to H1d in chicken embryonic development implied their possible functions as the feed additive during early posthatch period of broiler chickens to satisfy the growth. These results provided insights into understand the roles of serum metabolites at different developmental stages of chicken embryos, it also provides available information for chicken as a model to study metabolic disease or human obesity.     

Modulation of broilers’ caecal microflora and metabolites in response to a potential probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Studies have found that a dietary supplement of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens improved the growth performance, increased the nutrient digestibility of hosts and modulated the intestinal microflora. A total of 360 1‐day‐old Ross broilers were randomly divided into three treatments: a control group with a basal diet, an antibiotic group with a basal diet and added colistin sulphate, and a probiotics group with a basal diet and added Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The HiSeq high‐throughput sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA was used to investigate the differences in birds’ caecal microflora, and metabolomics was used to analyse changes in caecal metabolites. Results showed that the supplementation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens significantly improved the BW and ADG compared with the control birds. Results of sequencing indicated that (i) 645, 670, 596 unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found in birds supplemented with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens on day 7, 21 and 42, separately, (ii) due to the diversity and relative abundance of the birds’ caecal microflora, the OTUs of the caecal microflora clustered according to age and treatment, except on day 42, (iii) among the six predominate families (Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Lactobacillaceae and Rikenellaceae), the supplementation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens significantly increased Enterobacteriaceae on day 42, (iv) Bacillus amyloliquefaciens increased the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium and Ruminococcus on day 21, increased the Faecalibacterium and Blautia and decreased the Ruminococcus on day 42. The metabolomics of caecal metabolites showed that the dietary Bacillus amyloliquefaciens changed the caecal metabolites involved of amino acid metabolism and glyceride metabolism, and the antibiotics changed the caecal metabolites that were related to carbohydrates and amino acid metabolism on day 21.     

Influence of organic phosphorus on reproductive performance and metabolic profiles of anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics at the end of breeding season

The effect of organic phosphorus on metabolic, haematological and hormonal status, restoration of ovarian functions and conception rate in anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics were evaluated. Anoestrous Farafra ewes (n  = 24; 34.72 ± 0.52 kg body weight) were allocated into two equal groups: control and phosphorus groups. The ewes of phosphorus group were treated with sodium 4‐dimethylamino‐2‐methyl‐phenyl‐phosphonate as an organic bound phosphorous twice a week for successive 3 weeks. Ovarian follicle development and corpora lutea were checked three times a week till occurrence of oestrus using ultrasonography while pregnancy was confirmed at 30 days post‐service. Plasma metabolites, reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones and minerals were detected at weeks ?2, ?1, 0 (mating day) and + 4 weeks post‐oestrus. Phosphorus group had significantly (p  < .05) short interval to oestrous resumption if compared to control ewes (2.1 ± 0.8 weeks vs . 4.6 ± 1.1 weeks). In addition, phosphorous supplementation significantly (p  < .05) increased the number of antral follicles (developed and their sizes in addition to sizes of corpora lutea (8.72 ± 0.3 mm vs . 7.46 ± 0.9 mm) as well. Number of services per conception (2.6 vs . 1.4; p  < .01) was higher in control group than that of phosphorus group. Pregnancy rate (80 vs . 50%) was significantly (p  < .01) higher in phosphorus group when compared to control. White blood cells in treated ewes (10.8 ± 0.44; p  < .05) and monocytes (2.93 ± 0.13; p  < .01) were higher than that of control group (white blood cells; 9.53 ± 0.50 and monocytes; 2.24 ± 0.14). Metabolic parameters did not differ between phosphorus and control groups during different times of treatment. It could be concluded that phosphorous administration to anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics could improve reproductive performance and restore ovarian activity at the end of spring and early summer.     

磷硫配施对冬小麦硒吸收及转运的影响

为了探讨磷硫配施对冬小麦产量、硒的吸收及转运的影响，为生产富硒小麦或合理调控小麦硒含量提供理论依据，采用盆栽试验，设置不同磷、硫水平，在小麦成熟期测定产量及植株各部位硒含量。结果表明：硫磷的配合施用能显著提高冬小麦产量，S0.1P0.4处理下冬小麦产量最高。除颖壳外，冬小麦各部位硒含量最高值都出现在S0P0处理。不论施硫与否，施磷均能显著降低冬小麦各部位硒含量，提高小麦植株硒累积量，促进冬小麦茎叶向颖壳的硒迁移，降低根向茎叶、颖壳向籽粒的硒迁移系数，还会减小籽粒的硒分配。单独施硫会降低植株的硒累积量，促进冬小麦根向茎叶、茎叶向颖壳的硒迁移，降低颖壳向籽粒的硒迁移系数，低硫处理能增加小麦籽粒的硒分配，高硫处理则降低了籽粒的硒分配。S0P0.2处理能显著提高籽粒硒累积量，而高浓度的磷硫配施会降低籽粒硒累积量；S0.1P0和S0.1P0.2处理籽粒硒分配较大,分别是45.3%和44.8%。因此，硫磷的合理配施能显著提高小麦产量，低硫（S0.1）高磷（P0.4）处理增产最显著。低硫（S0.1）低磷（P0.2）处理能更有效地增加植株硒累积量，增强硒在籽粒中的累积。