Comparative study on alleviating effect of kiwi berry (Actinidia arguta) polysaccharide and polyphenol extracts on constipated mice.

Kiwi berry (Actinidia arguta) is beneficial for relieving constipation, but the mechanism of easing constipation is still unknown. The alleviating effects of kiwi berry polysaccharide and polyphenol extracts on loperamide induced constipation were studied. Administration with polysaccharide extract of kiwi berry in loperamide-induced constipation mice distinctly decreased the body weight gain by 124.0%, the number and the water content of feces was decreased by 152.4% and 107.0% respectively, gastrointestinal (GI) transit rate was decreased by 39.5% and the time to the first dark stool was largen by 56.2% as compared with those in the loperamide group, respectively. The levels of excitability neurotransmitters were increased, and the inhibitory neurotransmitter was decreased in the kiwi berry extracts groups compared with the loperamide group. The levels of aquaporins were decreased to ameliorate constipation. Moreover, kiwi berry extracts can protect colon smooth muscle cells from apoptosis and help to restore colon health. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and animal experiments suggested that kiwi berry extracts can up-regulate the expression levels of stem cell factors (SCF)/c-kit protein. Kiwi berry can remodel the structure of microbial communities. All findings suggest that kiwi berry polysaccharide and polyphenol especially its polysaccharide extract, can effectively alleviate constipation induced by loperamide. Kiwi berry is a promising food supplement that can be used to relieve constipation.

Outer membrane protein (OMP) based vaccine for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B.

A family of outer membrane lipoproteins of Neisseria meningitidis, LP2086, has been shown to induce serum bactericidal activity against a broad variety of meningococcal strains. Two sub-families of serologically distinct LP2086 proteins (A and B) have been identified. In the present study, we have shown that polyclonal anti-serum against rLP2086 is protective in vivo in an infant rat passive-protection model. Additionally, the LP2086 protein is displayed on the surface of 91% meningococcal strains as measured in a whole cell ELISA using polyclonal anti-sera raised against these proteins. We also demonstrate based on the reactivity of anti-rLP2086 antibody with recombinantly expressed C- and N-terminal fragments of rLP2086 in a Western blot assay that the C-terminal fragment of LP2086 dictates sub-family specificity and the N-terminal fragment determines the family specificity. A formulation containing family A and B of LP2086 potentially would provide broad protection against a majority of Neisseria meningitidis strains.