Polystyrene Microplastics Causes Diarrhea and Impairs Intestinal Angiogenesis through the ROS/METTL3 Pathway.

Due to the immature intestinal digestion, immunity, and barrier functions, weaned infants are more susceptible to pathogens and develop diarrhea. Microplastics (MPs), pervasive contaminants in food, water, and air, have unknown effects on the intestinal development of weaned infants. This study explored the impact of polystyrene MPs on intestinal development using a weaned piglet model. Piglets in the control group received a basal diet, and those in the experimental groups received a basal diet contaminated with 150 mg/kg polystyrene MPs. The results showed that exposure to polystyrene MPs increased the diarrhea incidence and impaired the intestinal barrier function of weaned piglets. Notably, the exposure led to oxidative stress and inflammation in the intestine. Furthermore, polystyrene MPs-treated weaned piglets showed a reduced level of intestinal angiogenesis. Mechanistically, polystyrene MPs suppressed methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) expression by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, consequently destabilizing angiogenic factors' mRNA and hindering intestinal angiogenesis. In summary, polystyrene MPs contamination in the diet increases diarrhea and compromises intestinal angiogenesis through the ROS/METTL3 pathway, demonstrating their toxic effects on the intestine health of weaned infants.

The Potential of Co-Fermentation of Whole-Plant Cassava with Piper sarmentosum: A Comprehensive Study of Fermentation Quality, Antioxidant Activity, Bacterial Community Structure, and Microbial Ecological Networks in Novel Foods.

The objective of this study was to explore the preservation of food products through the co-fermentation of whole-plant cassava and Piper sarmentosum (PS) without additives. We assessed fermentation quality, antioxidant activity, bacterial community structure, function profile, and microbial ecological network features. Our results demonstrate that co-fermentation of whole-plant cassava with 10% PS significantly improves food quality. The co-fermented samples exhibited enhanced lactic acid concentrations and increased antioxidant activity, with reduced pH values and concentrations of acetic acid, butyric acid, and ammonia-N(NH3-N) compared to whole-plant cassava fermented alone. In addition, PS addition also optimized microbial community structure by elevating the total abundance of lactic acid bacteria and influenced bacterial predicted functions. Furthermore, our analysis of co-occurrence networks reveals that co-fermentation impacts microbial network features, including module numbers and bacterial relative abundances, leading to altered complexity and stability of the networks. Moreover, out study also highlights the impact of ferment undesirable bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and unclassified_Muribaculaceae playing crucial roles in microbial network complexity and stability. These findings provide valuable insights into the anaerobic fermentation process and offers strategies for regulating food fermentation quality.

Polystyrene microplastics exposure reduces meat quality and disturbs skeletal muscle angiogenesis via thrombospondin 1.

Microplastics (MPs) pose a significant threat to livestock health. Yet, the roles of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) on meat quality and skeletal muscle development in pigs have not been fully determined. To investigate the effect of PS-MPs on skeletal muscle, piglets were given diets supplementation with 0 mg/kg (CON group), 75 mg/kg (75 mg/kg PS-MPs group), and 150 mg/kg PS-MPs (150 mg/kg PS-MPs group), respectively. The results indicated that the average daily gain (ADG) of piglets in the 150 mg/kg PS-MPs group was significantly lower than that in the CON group. No significant differences were observed in the final body weight and ADG between the CON group and the 75 mg/kg PS-MPs group. Piglets in the 150 mg/kg PS-MPs group exhibited decreased meat redness index and type I muscle fiber density. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the contents of meat flavor compounds carnosine, beta-alanine, palmitic acid, and niacinamide in muscle were lower in the 150 mg/kg PS-MPs group than in the CON group. Additionally, piglets subjected to 150 mg/kg PS-MPs exhibited impaired muscle angiogenesis. Further analysis indicated that PS-MPs exposure up-regulated thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) expression by inhibiting THBS1 mRNA and protein degradation, thereby disrupting skeletal muscle angiogenesis. These findings indicate that PS-MPs exposure adversely affects meat quality and hinders skeletal muscle angiogenesis in pigs, providing deeper insights into the detrimental effects of PS-MPs on meat quality and skeletal muscle development.

Viscoelastic blood coagulation testing system enabled by a non-contact triboelectric angle sensor.

Thromboelastography (TEG) remains a convenient and effective viscoelastic blood coagulation testing device for guiding blood component transfusion and assessing the risk of thrombosis. Here, a TEG enabled by a non-contact triboelectric angle sensor (NTAS) with a small size (∼7 cm3) is developed for assessing the blood coagulation system. With the assistance of a superelastic torsion wire structure, the NTAS-TEG realizes the detection of blood viscoelasticity. Benefiting from a grating and convex design, the NTAS holds a collection of compelling features, including accurate detection of rotation angles from -2.5° to 2.5°, high linearity (R 2 = 0.999), and a resolution of 0.01°. Besides, the NTAS exhibits merits of low cost and simplified fabrication. Based on the NTAS-TEG, a viscoelastic blood coagulation detection and analysis system is successfully constructed, which can provide a graph and parameters associated with clot initiation, formation, and stability for clinicians by using 0.36 mL of whole blood. The system not only validates the feasibility of the triboelectric coagulation testing sensor, but also further expands the application of triboelectric sensors in healthcare.

The Role of BMP7 in the Proliferation of Hu Sheep Dermal Papilla Cells Is Influenced by DNA Methylation.

Previous studies have shown that the BMP7 gene is differentially expressed in Hu sheep lamb skin of different pattern types, and its expression level is significantly correlated with hair follicle indices of different pattern types, but the molecular mechanism of the differential expression of the BMP7 gene remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of DNA methylation on the transcriptional expression of BMP7. Firstly, we found that the mRNA expression of the BMP7 gene and the activity of the core promoter of the BMP7 gene were upregulated after 5-Aza-Deoxycytidine-induced demethylation treatment using qRT-PCR and double luciferase reporter assay. Then, we found that the proliferation of Hu sheep DPCs in vitro was promoted after 5-Aza-Deoxycytidine-induced demethylation treatment through qRT-PCR, CCK-8, and EdU assay, and that the overexpression of DNMT1 in DPCs induced the opposite effect. In addition, the results of the cell cycle assay reveal that the percentage of cells in the S phase was increased after 5-Aza-Deoxycytidine-induced demethylation treatment, and that the percentage of cells in the S phase was decreased after overexpression of DNMT1 in DPCs. This study indicated that the differential expression of the BMP7 gene in different patterns of Hu sheep lamb skin may be regulated by DNA methylation modification. In addition, DNA methylation can regulate the proliferation and cell cycle of DPCs in Hu sheep.

Dual-Aptamer Recognition of DNA Logic Gate Sensor-Based Specific Exosomal Proteins for Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis.

Clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer lacks high accuracy due to the weak selection of specific biomarkers along with the circumstance biomarkers localization. Clustering analysis of proteins transported on exosomes enables a more precise screening of effective biomarkers. Herein, through bioinformatics analysis of ovarian cancer and exosome proteomes, two coexpressed proteins, EpCAM and CD24, specifically enriched, were identified, together with the development of an as-derived dual-aptamer targeted exosome-based strategy for ovarian cancer screening. In brief, a DNA ternary polymer with aptamers targeting EpCAM and CD24 was designed to present a logic gate reaction upon recognizing ovarian cancer exosomes, triggering a rolling circle amplification chemiluminescent signal. A dynamic detection range of 6 orders of magnitude was achieved by quantifying exosomes. Moreover, for clinical samples, this strategy could accurately differentiate exosomes from healthy persons, other cancer patients, and ovarian cancer patients, enabling promising in situ detection. By accurately selecting biomarkers and constructing a dual-targeted exosomal protein detection strategy, the limitation of insufficient specificity of traditional protein markers was circumvented. This work contributed to the development of exosome-based prognosis monitoring in ovarian cancer through the identification of disease-specific exosome protein markers.

The Changes in Fecal Bacterial Communities in Goats Offered Rumen-Protected Fat.

Leizhou goats are famous for their delicious meat but have inferior growth performance. There is little information on rumen-protected fat (RPF) from the Leizhou goat. Hence, we observed the effects of RPF on growth, fecal short-chain fatty acids, and bacteria community with respect to Leizhou goats. Twelve goats (13.34 ± 0.024 kg) were selected and assigned randomly to one of two treatments: (1) a control diet (CON) and (2) 2.4% RPF with a control diet (RPF). The final body weight and average daily gain (ADG) were greater (p < 0.05), and the dry matter intake (DMI): ADG was lower (p < 0.05) in the RPF group than in the CON group. There were no differences in DMI between the CON and RPF groups. The concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids, acetate, propionate, and butyrate were lower (p < 0.05) in the RPF group than in the CON group. The relative abundances of Ruminococcus, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Treponema, norank_f__norank_o__RF39, Eubacterium_siraeum_group, and Ruminococcus_torques_group were lower (p < 0.05) in the RPF group than in the CON group. The relative abundances of Bacteroides, norank_f__norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014, norank_f__Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, Eubacterium_ruminantium_group, norank_f__Oscillospirale-UCG-010, Oscillospiraceae_UCG-002, and Family_XIII_AD3011_group were greater (p < 0.05) in the RPF group than in the CON group. It was concluded that RPF could improve the goats' growth performance by regulating their fecal bacteria communities.

A haplotype-resolved gap-free genome assembly provides novel insight into monoterpenoid diversification in Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata'.

Mentha is a commonly used spice worldwide, which possesses medicinal properties and fragrance. These characteristics are conferred, at least partially, by essential oils such as menthol. In this study, a gap-free assembly with a genome size of 414.3 Mb and 31,251 coding genes was obtained for Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata'. Based on its high heterozygosity (1.5%), two complete haplotypic assemblies were resolved, with genome sizes of 401.9 and 405.7 Mb, respectively. The telomeres and centromeres of each haplotype were almost fully annotated. In addition, we detected a total of 41,135 structural variations. Enrichment analysis demonstrated that genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis were affected by these structural variations. Analysis of volatile metabolites showed that M. suaveolens mainly produces piperitenone oxide rather than menthol. We identified three genes in the M. suaveolens genome which encode isopiperitenone reductase (ISPR), a key rate-limiting enzyme in menthol biosynthesis. However, the transcription levels of ISPR were low. Given that other terpenoid biosynthesis genes were expressed, M. suaveolens ISPRs may account for the accumulation of piperitenone oxide in this species. The findings of this study may provide a valuable resource for improving the detection rate and accuracy of genetic variants, thereby enhancing our understanding of their impact on gene function and expression. Moreover, our haplotype-resolved gap-free genome assembly offers novel insights into molecular marker-assisted breeding of Mentha.

Maternal Supplementation with Ornithine Promotes Placental Angiogenesis and Improves Intestinal Development of Suckling Piglets.

The blood vessels of the placenta are crucial for fetal growth. Here, lower vessel density and ornithine (Orn) content were observed in placentae for low-birth-weight fetuses versus normal-birth-weight fetuses at day 75 of gestation. Furthermore, the Orn content in placentae decreased from day 75 to 110 of gestation. To investigate the role of Orn in placental angiogenesis, 48 gilts (Bama pig) were allocated into four groups. The gilts in the control group were fed a basal diet (CON group), while those in the experimental groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.05% Orn (0.05% Orn group), 0.10% Orn (0.10% Orn group), and 0.15% Orn (0.15% Orn group), respectively. The results showed that 0.15% Orn and 0.10% Orn groups exhibited increased birth weight of piglets compared with the CON group. Moreover, the 0.15% Orn group was higher than the CON group in the blood vessel densities of placenta. Mechanistically, Orn facilitated placental angiogenesis by regulating vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). Furthermore, maternal supplementation with 0.15% Orn during gestation increased the jejunal and ileal villi height and the concentrations of colonic propionate and butyrate in suckling piglets. Collectively, these results showed that maternal supplementation with Orn promotes placental angiogenesis and improves intestinal development of suckling piglets.

Effects of Cellulase and Xylanase on Fermentation Characteristics, Chemical Composition and Bacterial Community of the Mixed Silage of King Grass and Rice Straw.

This study was to investigate the effects of cellulase and xylanase on fermentation characteristics, nutrient composition and the bacterial community of the mixed silage of king grass and rice straw. Lab-scale bag silage was produced and seven groups were studied: blank control (CK); added 1%, 2% cellulase (CE1, CE2); added 1%, 2% xylanase (XY1, XY2); and added 0.5% cellulase +0.5% xylanase, 1% cellulase +1% xylanase (CX1, CX2). The results showed that the application of additives in six treated groups exerted a positive effect on lactic acid (LA) content and their pH values decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The addition of cellulase and xylanase decreased (p < 0.05) the content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) significantly and increased (p < 0.01) the crude protein (CP) and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content. Filter paper enzyme activity (FPA) declined and xylanase activity (XA) intensified (p < 0.05) as ensiling was prolonged, where most of the enzymatic treatments (especially XY2, CX2) resulted in increased enzyme activities. Moreover, the addition of cellulase and xylanase reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Acinetobacter and Klebsiella and increased the abundance of lactic acid bacteria such as Lacticaseseibacillus, Lactiplantibacillus. In conclusion, the addition of cellulase and xylanase would improve fermentation quality and nutrient preservation via altering the bacterial community, with 1% cellulase or complex enzyme best.

Effects of mixed extract from two tropical plants on gut microbiome and metabolome in piglets.

In this study, we performed a quantitative analysis of 12 compounds derived from Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE) and guava leaf extract (GE). In addition, we investigated the effects of mixed extract (ME) of PSE and GE (1:1) on piglets' gut microbiome and metabolome. A total of 200 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire, 21-day-old) were randomly assigned into two groups with five replicates of 20 piglets/pen having the same initial body weight. Piglets were fed a basal diet supplemented with ME at 0 (T0) or 200 mg/kg (T1) for 3 weeks. The quantitation results by ultraperformance liquid chromatography linked to triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry showed that vitexin 2-O-rhamnoside and pellitorine were the greatest abundant among six compounds detected in the PSE. In addition, quercetin, isoquercitrin and avicularin were found to be the richest of all detected compounds in the GE. Findings on experimental animals indicated that three differential metabolites, comprising L-alanine, sarcosine and dihydrofolic acid, in T1 compared with T0 groups, have exactly opposite levels trends in serum and faeces. Moreover, two metabolic pathways (i.e., urea cycle and glutamate metabolism) differed significantly in the serum and faeces of piglets between T0 and T1 (p < 0.05). At the same time, T1 had significantly higher relative abundances of Agathobacter and Alloprevotella than T0 at genus level (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that the genus Agathobacter correlated positively with carbamoyl phosphate (p < 0.01) and oxoglutaric acid (p < 0.05), and negatively with succinic acid (p < 0.01) and ornithine (p < 0.05). These four differential metabolites were also involved in the urea cycle and/or glutamate metabolism pathways. The results here indicated that the tested plant extract mixture represents a worthy feed additive with obvious antioxidative properties.

Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed that HaMYB1 modulates anthocyanin accumulation to deepen sunflower flower color.

KEY MESSAGE: HanMYB1 was found to play positive roles in the modulation of anthocyanins metabolism based on the integrative analysis of different color cultivars and the related molecular genetic analyses. As a high value ornamental and edible crop with various colors, sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) provide an ideal system to understand the formation of flower color. Anthocyanins are major pigments in higher plants, which is associated with development of flower colors and ability of oxidation resistance. Here, we performed an integrative analysis of the transcriptome and flavonoid metabolome in five sunflower cultivars with different flower colors. According to differentially expressed genes and differentially accumulated flavonoids, these cultivars could be grouped into yellow and red. The results showed that more anthocyanins were accumulated in the red group flowers, especially the chrysanthemin. Some anthocyanins biosynthesis-related genes like UFGT (UDP-glycose flavonoid glycosyltransferase) also expressed more in the red group flowers. A MYB transcriptional factor, HanMYB1, was found to play vital positive roles in the modulation of anthocyanins metabolism by the integrative analysis. Overexpressed HanMYB1 in tobacco could deepen the flower color, increase the accumulation of anthocyanins and directly active the express of UFGT genes. Our findings indicated that the MYB transcriptional factors provide new insight into the dynamic regulation of the anthocyanin biosynthesis in facilitating sunflower color formation and anthocyanin accumulation.

Schisandrin A enhances pathogens resistance by targeting a conserved p38 MAPK pathway.

Schizandrin A (SA), also known as deoxyschizandrin, is one of the most biologically active lignans isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Fructus schisandrae chinensis. Schisandrin A has proven benefits for anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, hepatoprotection, anti-oxidation, neuroprotection, anti-diabetes. But the influence of Schisandrin A to the innate immune response and its molecular mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, we found that Schisandrin A increased resistance to not only the Gram-negative pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica but also the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Meanwhile, Schisandrin A protected the animals from the infection by enhancing the tolerance to the pathogens infection rather than by reducing the bacterial burden. Through the screening of the conserved immune pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans, we found that Schisandrin A enhanced innate immunity via p38 MAPK pathway. Furthermore, Schisandrin A increased the expression of antibacterial peptide genes, such as K08D8.5, lys-2, F35E12.5, T24B8.5, and C32H11.12 by activation PMK-1/p38 MAPK. Importantly, Schisandrin A-treated mice also enhanced resistance to P. aeruginosa PA14 infection and significantly increased the levels of active PMK-1. Thus, promoted PMK-1/p38 MAPK-mediated innate immunity by Schisandrin A is conserved from worms to mammals. Our work provides a conserved mechanism by which Schisandrin A enhances innate immune response and boosts its therapeutic application in the treatment of infectious diseases.

Development of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for selective extraction of Benzoxazolinone-type alkaloids from acanthus plants.

Benzoxazolinone-type alkaloids found in Acanthus ebracteatus and Acanthus ilicifolius Linnaeus possess various beneficial properties, such as antileishmanial, antipyretic, analgesic, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects. In this study, we employed a surface imprinting technique on nanomaterials. We utilized functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2NH2 as a scaffold, with 2-benzoxazolinone and 2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one serving as dual templates, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker, and 2,2-azodiisobutyric nitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. Prior to polymerization, we screened functional monomers using ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. The resulting magnetic surface molecular imprinting polymer (Fe3O4@SiO2@MIP) was thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also conducted assessments of its adsorption isotherms, dynamics, and selective binding capabilities. Our findings indicate that the MIPs exhibited exceptional selective recognition performance. Through meticulous screening and optimization of extraction and separation conditions, we established an LC‒MS/MS method based on magnetic solid-phase extraction technology. The method exhibited a recovery range of 78.80-106.99 % (RSD, 0.46-3.31 %) for 2-benzoxazolinone, with a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2.85 and 9.00 µg L-1, respectively. For 2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one, the method yielded a recovery range of 84.75-103.53 % (RSD, 0.07-5.96 %), with an LOD and LOQ of 3.60 and 12.60 µg L-1, respectively, in real samples. The resulting Fe3O4@SiO2@MIP demonstrated a high capacity for class-specific adsorption.

Putrescine promotes MMP9-induced angiogenesis in skeletal muscle through hydrogen peroxide/METTL3 pathway.

Blood vessels play a crucial role in the development of skeletal muscle, ensuring the supply of nutrients and oxygen. Putrescine, an essential polyamine for eukaryotic cells, has an unclear impact on skeletal muscle angiogenesis. In this study, we observed lower vessel density and reduced putrescine level in the muscle of low-birth-weight piglet models, and identified a positive correlation between putrescine content and muscle vessel density. Furthermore, putrescine was found to promote angiogenesis in skeletal muscle both in vitro and in vivo by targeting matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9). On a mechanistic level, putrescine augmented the expression of methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) by attenuating hydrogen peroxide production, thereby increasing the level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified MMP9 mRNA. This m6A-modified MMP9 mRNA was subsequently recognized and bound by the YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 1 (YTHDF1), enhancing the stability of MMP9 mRNA and its protein expression, consequently accelerating angiogenesis in skeletal muscle. In summary, our findings suggest that putrescine enhances MMP9-mediated angiogenesis in skeletal muscle via the hydrogen peroxide/METTL3 pathway.

Effects of Copy Number Variations in the Plectin (PLEC) Gene on the Growth Traits and Meat Quality of Leizhou Black Goats.

The plectin (PLEC) gene is crucial in regulating muscle development and maintaining the cytoskeleton. An abnormal expression of PLEC can lead to muscle atrophy and muscular dystrophy. In a previous study, we found that Leizhou black goats exhibit abundant structural variations in the PLEC gene. However, the genetic effects of these variations on growth traits and meat quality in goats are not fully understood. In this study, three PLEC copy number variations (CNVs) were identified in a population of 417 Leizhou black goats, using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology. Population distribution analysis revealed a high abundance of various types of these three CNVs. PLEC mRNA was found to be highly expressed in muscle tissue and remained consistently high from 1 month to 24 months after birth. Specifically, the gain type of CNV-1 (chr14: 81056401-81064800) showed a significant association with PLEC mRNA expression in muscle tissue (p < 0.01). The sequence of CNV-1 in PLEC shares similarities with three domain superfamilies associated with muscle development and skin disease. Furthermore, there were significant differences in chest circumference, body weight, carcass weight, the cross-sectional area of the longissimus dorsi lumbar muscle, and shear stress between different types of CNV-1 (p < 0.05). Notably, goats with the CNV-1 gain type demonstrated better phenotypic values compared to those with loss and normal types. These findings suggest that PLEC CNV-1 could play a crucial role in the growth and muscle development of Leizhou black goats, making it a potential marker for assisted selection in goat breeding.

A Comprehensive Study of Historical Detection Data for Pathogen Isolates from U.S. Cattle.

Foodborne pathogens pose substantial health hazards and result in considerable economic losses in the U.S. Fortunately, the National Center for Biotechnology Information Pathogen Detection Isolates Browser (NPDIB) provides valuable access to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes and antimicrobial assay data. This study aimed to conduct the first comprehensive investigation of AMR genes in pathogens isolated from U.S. cattle over the past decade, driven by the urgent need to address the dangers of AMR specifically originating in pathogens isolated from U.S. cattle. In this study, around 28,000 pathogen isolate samples were extracted from the NPDIB and then analyzed using multivariate statistical methods, mainly principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (H-clustering). These approaches were necessary due to the high dimensions of the raw data. Specifically, PCA was utilized to reduce the dimensions of the data, converting it to a two-dimensional space, and H-clustering was used to better identify the differences among data points. The findings from this work highlighted Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli as the predominant pathogens among the isolates, with E. coli being the more concerning pathogen due to its increasing prevalence in recent years. Moreover, tetracycline was observed as the most commonly resistant antimicrobial, with the resistance genes mdsA, mdsB, mdtM, blaEC, and acrF being the most prevalent in pathogen isolates from U.S. cattle. The occurrence of mdtM, blaEC, acrF, and glpT_E448k showed an increase in pathogens isolated from U.S. cattle in recent years. Furthermore, based on the data collected for the locations of AMR cases, Texas, California, and Nebraska were the major areas carrying major AMR genes or antimicrobials with detected resistance. The results from this study provide potential directions for targeted interventions to mitigate pathogens' antimicrobial resistance in U.S. cattle.

Antagonistic Activity of Oroxylin A against Fusarium graminearum and Its Inhibitory Effect on Zearalenone Production.

Fusarium graminearum produces zearalenone (ZEA), a mycotoxin that is widely found in food and feed products and is toxic to humans and livestock. Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE) inhibits F. graminearum, and Oroxylin A appears to be a major antifungal compound in PSE. The aim of this study is to quantify the Oroxylin A content in PSE using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, and to investigate the antagonistic activity of Oroxylin A against F. graminearum and its inhibitory effect on ZEA production. The results indicate that Oroxylin A inhibits both fungal growth and ZEA production in a dose-dependent manner. Oroxylin A treatment downregulated the mRNA expression of zearalenone biosynthesis protein 1 (ZEB1) and zearalenone biosynthesis protein 2 (ZEB2). The metabolomics analysis of F. graminearum mycelia indicated that the level of ribose 5-phosphate (R5P) deceased (p < 0.05) after Oroxylin A treatment (64-128 ng/mL). Moreover, as the Oroxylin A treatment content increased from 64 to 128 ng/mL, the levels of cis-aconitate (p < 0.05) and fumarate (p < 0.01) were upregulated successively. A correlation analysis further showed that the decreased R5P level was positively correlated with ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression, while the increased cis-aconitate and fumarate levels were negatively correlated with ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. These findings demonstrate the potential of Oroxylin A as a natural agent to control toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxin.

Cassava Foliage Effects on Antioxidant Capacity, Growth, Immunity, and Ruminal Microbial Metabolism in Hainan Black Goats.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) foliage is a byproduct of cassava production characterized by high biomass and nutrient content. In this study, we investigated the effects of cassava foliage on antioxidant capacity, growth performance, and immunity status in goats, as well as rumen fermentation and microbial metabolism. Twenty-five Hainan black goats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 5 per group) and accepted five treatments: 0% (T1), 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4), and 100% (T5) of the cassava foliage silage replaced king grass, respectively. The feeding experiment lasted for 70 d (including 10 d adaptation period and 60 d treatment period). Feeding a diet containing 50% cassava foliage resulted in beneficial effects for goat growth and health, as reflected by the higher average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and better feed conversion rate (FCR), as well as by the reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine (CRE), and triglycerides (TG). Meanwhile, cassava foliage improved antioxidant activity by increasing the level of glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and lowering malondialdehyde (MDA). Moreover, feeding cassava foliage was also beneficial to immunity status by enhancing complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4), immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (IgM). Furthermore, the addition of dietary cassava foliage also altered rumen fermentation, rumen bacterial community composition, and metabolism. The abundance of Butyrivibrio_2 and Prevotella_1 was elevated, as were the concentrations of beneficial metabolites such as butyric acid; there was a concomitant decline in metabolites that hindered nutrient metabolism and harmed host health. In summary, goats fed a diet containing 50% cassava foliage silage demonstrated a greater abundance of Butyrivibrio_2, which enhanced the production of butyric acid; these changes led to greater antioxidant capacity, growth performance, and immunity in the goats.

Use of Tandem Mass Spectrometry Quantitative Proteomics to Identify Potential Biomarkers to Follow the Effects of Cold and Frozen Storage of Muscle Tissue of Litopenaeus vannamei.

L. vannamei has become one of the most productive species. However, it is susceptible to microbial contamination during fishing, transportation, and storage, which can lead to spoilage and quality deterioration. This study investigates the relationship between changes in the proteome of Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei) muscle and quality characteristics during low-temperature storage using the tandem mass spectrometry technology of quantitative proteomics strategy. The differential expression of proteins under cold storage (4 °C, CS), partial slight freezing (-3 °C, PFS), and frozen storage (-18 °C, FS) conditions was compared with the fresh group (CK), resulting in 1572 proteins identified as differentially expressed. The purpose of this research is to identify potential biochemical markers by analyzing quality changes and relative differential proteins through searches in the UniProt database, Gene Ontology database, and Genome Encyclopedia. Correlation analysis revealed that seven DEPs were significantly related to physical and chemical indicators. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that most DEPs are involved in binding proteins, metabolic enzymes, and protein turnover. Additionally, some DEPs were identified as potential biomarkers for muscle decline. These findings contribute to understanding the mechanism of freshness decline in L. vannamei under low-temperature storage and the changes in muscle proteome.