Multiple Dictyostelid Species Destroy Biofilms of Klebsiella oxytoca and Other Gram Negative Species.

Dictyostelids are free-living phagocytes that feed on bacteria in diverse habitats. When bacterial prey is in short supply or depleted, they undergo multicellular development culminating in the formation of dormant spores. In this work, we tested isolates representing four dictyostelid species from two genera (Dictyostelium and Polysphondylium) for the potential to feed on biofilms preformed on glass and polycarbonate surfaces. The abilities of dictyostelids were monitored for three hallmarks of activity: 1) spore germination on biofilms, 2) predation on biofilm enmeshed bacteria by phagocytic cells and 3) characteristic stages of multicellular development (streaming and fructification). We found that all dictyostelid isolates tested could feed on biofilm enmeshed bacteria produced by human and plant pathogens: Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas syringae, Erwinia amylovora 1189 (biofilm former) and E. amylovora 1189 Δams (biofilm deficient mutant). However, when dictyostelids were fed planktonic E. amylovora Δams the bacterial cells exhibited an increased susceptibility to predation by one of the two dictyostelid strains they were tested against. Taken together, the qualitative and quantitative data presented here suggest that dictyostelids have preferences in bacterial prey which affects their efficiency of feeding on bacterial biofilms.

Protective effect of Panax ginseng against serum biochemical changes and apoptosis in liver of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible beneficial effects of Panax ginseng (PG) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. CCl(4) challenge elevated serum enzyme activities of liver and some biochemical parameters, but these effects were prevented by the pretreatment of rats with PG. Histologically, a great amount of mononuclear cells infiltration, necrotic cells and few fibroblasts were observed in liver of CCl(4) group. Also, CD68(+) and caspase-3 staining cells were diffused in both lobular and portal areas. However, PG pretreatment had a little influence on the number of caspase-3 immunopositive staining cells in the liver, but CD68(+) staining areas were significantly decreased in the PG+CCl(4) when compared to CCl(4) group. We conclude that PG treatment may play a protective role by enhancing liver enzyme activities and recovering biochemical parameters, and improving the changes in histological structure against CCl(4)-induced liver damages in rats.

Royal jelly modulates oxidative stress and apoptosis in liver and kidneys of rats treated with cisplatin.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of cancer and has adverse side effects such as nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. The present study was designed to determine the effects of royal jelly (RJ) against oxidative stress caused by CDDP injury of the kidneys and liver, by measuring tissue biochemical and antioxidant parameters and investigating apoptosis immunohistochemically. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups, group C: control group received 0.9% saline; group CDDP: injected i.p. with cisplatin (CDDP, 7 mg kg(-1) body weight i.p., single dose); group RJ: treated for 15 consecutive days by gavage with RJ (300 mg/kg/day); group RJ + CDDP: treated by gavage with RJ 15 days following a single injection of CDDP. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined in liver and kidney homogenates, and the liver and kidney were also histologically examined. RJ elicited a significant protective effect towards liver and kidney by decreasing the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA), elevating the level of GSH, and increasing the activities of GST, GSH-Px, and SOD. In the immunohistochemical examinations were observed significantly enhanced apoptotic cell numbers and degenerative changes by cisplatin, but these histological changes were lower in the liver and kidney tissues of RJ + CDDP group. Besides, treatment with RJ lead to an increase in antiapoptotic activity hepatocytes and tubular epithelium. In conclusion, RJ may be used in combination with cisplatin in chemotherapy to improve cisplatin-induced oxidative stress parameters and apoptotic activity.

Physiological profile of juvenile rats: effects of cage size and cage density.

Although there is a general consensus that housing conditions affect the well-being of laboratory animals, the ideal cage size and density for housing laboratory rodents has not been established. The authors investigated the effects of cage size and cage density on growth, organ development, metabolic profile, and hemogram in juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats. Larger cages and increased cage density were associated with depressions in body weight and in the weights of several organs. In general, increasing group size and density correlated more strongly with detrimental effects on the growth of females than males, although hemogram values indicated that males are more prone to emotional stress and immune suppression than females in response to increasing group size and crowding.