Potential roles of 1,5-anhydro-D-fructose in modulating gut microbiome in mice.

The gut microbiota has tremendous potential to affect the host's health, in part by synthesizing vitamins and generating nutrients from food that is otherwise indigestible by the host. 1,5-Anhydro-D-fructose (1,5-AF) is a monosaccharide with a wide range of bioactive potentials, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial effects. Based on its potential benefits and minimal toxicity, it is anticipated that 1,5-AF will be used as a dietary supplement to support general health. However, the effects of 1,5-AF on the gut microbiota are yet to be clarified. Here, using an unbiased metagenomic approach, we profiled the bacterial taxa and functional genes in the caecal microbiota of mice fed a diet containing either 2% 1,5-AF or a reference sweetener. Supplementation with 1,5-AF altered the composition of the gut microbiota, enriching the proportion of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. 1,5-AF also altered the metabolomic profile of the gut microbiota, enriching genes associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis. These findings support the potential benefits of 1,5-AF, but further studies are required to clarify the impact of 1,5-AF on health and disease.

Effects of posthatch feed deprivation on residual yolk absorption, macronutrients synthesis, and organ development in broiler chicks.

The aim of the research was to evaluate the dynamic changes of early posthatch starvation on residual yolk absorption, synthesis of macronutrients (protein, lipid, and glycogen), and organ development in broiler chicks. A total of 720 1-day-old chicks (Lingnan Yellow) were randomly assigned to 3 treatments: group A (nonfasted), group B (fasting for 24 h after placement), and group C (fasting for 48 h after placement). The trial lasted for 168 h, and water was provided ad libitum all the time. Sampling was performed at 0, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h. Nonfasting (group A) promoted (P < 0.05) the absorption of amino acids, fatty acids, mineral elements, protein, and maternal antibody in the residual yolk of broiler chicks. The concentration of insulin-like growth factor 1 in plasma and the liver was higher (P < 0.05) in group A. Nonfasting enhanced (P < 0.05) the synthesis of protein and glycogen in the breast muscle and liver; the relative weights of the liver, pancreas, and spleen; and body weight, but retarded (P < 0.05) the synthesis of triglyceride in the liver. The results indicated that nonfasting (group A) after placement promoted the absorption of residual yolk and synthesis of protein and glycogen in the breast muscle and liver, whereas early feed deprivation promoted the synthesis of lipid in the liver. Thereby, nonfasting after placement promoted organ development and body growth of broiler chicks.

Genetically Engineered Oil Seed Crops and Novel Terrestrial Nutrients: Ethical Considerations.

Genetically engineered (GE) organisms have been at the center of ethical debates among the public and regulators over their potential risks and benefits to the environment and society. Unlike the currently commercial GE crops that express resistance or tolerance to pesticides or herbicides, a new GE crop produces two bioactive nutrients (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) that heretofore have largely been produced only in aquatic environments. This represents a novel category of risk to ecosystem functioning. The present paper describes why growing oilseed crops engineered to produce EPA and DHA means introducing into a terrestrial ecosystem a pair of highly bioactive nutrients that are novel to terrestrial ecosystems and why that may have ecological and physiological consequences. More importantly perhaps, this paper argues that discussion of this novel risk represents an opportunity to examine the way the debate over genetically modified crops is being conducted.

Degradación de hojarasca y aporte de nutrientes del manglar en la Laguna Mecoacán, Golfo de México / Leaf litter degradation and nutrient supply in the mangroves of Mecoacán Lagoon, Gulf of Mexico

Resumen Los manglares son ecosistemas de importante productividad primaria, donde se establece un flujo de energía (nutrientes) con zonas adyacentes y su ambiente acuático, impulsado principalmente por los procesos de degradación. El objetivo del estudio fue estimar el coeficiente de degradación diario (k) de hoja de mangle por medio de bolsas de degradación, en relación con los factores físico químicos del suelo y el aporte de nutrientes (fósforo y nitrógeno) en sedimento del manglar de la Laguna Mecoacán, Golfo de México. El coeficiente de degradación se estimó por medio de bolsas de degradación de hojarasca en seis sitios de monitoreo mensual. Se identificó una rápida degradación durante el primer mes de hasta 51 % en Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn asociado a procesos de lixiviación por condiciones de inundación. La degradación (k) de Rhizophora mangle L. (k= 0.0052 ± 0.0002) (F= 12.2 p<0.05 n= 216) y Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn (k= 0.005 ± 0.0003) (F= 3.7 p= 0.02 n= 108) difieren significativamente de A. germinans (k= 0.009 ± 0.0003) (F= 1.2 p= 0.02 n= 216). En relación al T50 de R. mangle y L. racemosa presentaron mayor tiempo de degradación (133 y 138 días respectivamente) comparado con A. germinans (74 días). Se registró una correlación significativa entre la materia orgánica y la humedad del suelo con la constante de descomposición de A. germinans (r= 0.65 p< 0.05 y r= 0.55 p< 0.05 respectivamente). El más alto contenido de nitrógeno total se dio en Pajaral (2 683 mg.Kg) y presentó alta correlación con el contenido de materia orgánica (r= 0.9 p= 0.03); en relación al fósforo total, el nivel más alto se presentó en Boca (2 031 mg.Kg) correlacionado de forma negativa con el pH (r= -0.61 p< 0.05). En conclusión, las diferencias en la velocidad de degradación de las hojas de mangle dependen de la especie (composición foliar), tiempo de exposición o inmersión en agua (patrón de inundación) y heterogeneidad del sedimento (i.e., textura, pH, contenido de humedad y densidad aparente).

Abstract Mangroves are ecosystems with a high primary productivity that is mainly driven mainly by degradation processes. Energy (nutrients) flows from mangroves toward adjacent zones and the surrounding aquatic environment. The objective of the present study was to estimate the daily degradation coefficient (k) of mangrove leaves in relation to physical-chemical soil factors and in situ nutrient supply (phosphorus and nitrogen) in Mecoacán Lagoon, Gulf of Mexico. Leaf litter degradation bags were placed at six monthly monitoring sites to evaluate degradation and to calculate the corresponding degradation coefficients. A rapid degradation of up to 51 % was observed for Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn during the first month in association with leaching resulting from flood conditions. The degradation of Rhizophora mangle (L.) (k= 0.0052±0.0002) (F= 12.2 p< 0.05 n= 216) and Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn (k= 0.005±0.0003) (F= 3.7 p= 0.2 n= 108), differed significantly from that of A. germinans (k= 0.009 ± 0.0003) (F= 1.2 p= 0.2 n= 216) did not present significant differences. To reach T50 degradation, R. mangle and L. racemosa required more time (133 and 138 days, respectively) than A. germinans (74 days). Organic matter and soil humidity were significantly correlated with the decay constant of A. germinans (r= 0.65 p< 0.05 and r= 0.55 p< 0.05, respectively). Total nitrogen content was highest in the Pajaral site (2 683 mg.kg) and was also highly correlated with organic matter content (r= 0.9 p= 0.003). Total phosphorus content was highest in the Boca site (2 031 mg.kg) and was also negatively correlated with pH (r= -0.61 p= 0.004). In conclusion, differences in the rate of mangrove leaf degradation depend on the involved species (leaf composition), time of exposure or immersion in water (flooding patterns) and sediment heterogeneity (i.e., texture, pH, humidity content and bulk density). Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 892-907. Epub 2018 June 01.