Effects of multiple abiotic stresses on lipids and sterols profile in barley leaves (Hordeum vulgare L.)

open6siPlants are usually exposed to several types of abiotic stress in regular field conditions. The lipid profile of barley homozygous lines exposed to drought, heat, salinity, and their combinations, was investigated in the present study. Free fatty acids, free sterols, and diacylglycerols were the most abundant classes (∼8.0% of plant material). The genetic background significantly impacted the lipid composition rather than the treatments, and diacylglycerols were the only lipid class affected by salinity (1.84 mg/100 mg plant tissue; ∼33% reduction). However, the genotype × treatment interaction analysis revealed that the lipid and sterol compositions depended on both genotype and environment. Our results suggest that inborn stress tolerance in barley is manifested by enhanced accumulation of most lipids, mainly sterols, especially in heat/drought-stressed plants. In addition, expression of the LTP2 gene may be indirectly involved in the abiotic stress reaction of barley by mediating intracellular transport of some lipid classesopenA. Kuczyńska; V. Cardenia; P. Ogrodowicza; .M. Kempa; M. T. Rodriguez-Estrada; K. MikołajczakaA. Kuczyńska; V. Cardenia; P. Ogrodowicza; .M. Kempa; M. T. Rodriguez-Estrada; K. Mikołajczak

Detection and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium parvum in British European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

Surveillance was conducted for the occurrence of protozoan parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium in European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Great Britain. In total, 108 voided faecal samples were collected from hedgehogs newly admitted to eight wildlife casualty treatment and rehabilitation centres. Terminal large intestinal (LI) contents from three hedgehog carcasses were also analysed. Information on host and location variables, including faecal appearance, body weight, and apparent health status, was compiled. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene, confirmed by sequencing, revealed an 8% (9/111) occurrence of Cryptosporidium parvum in faeces or LI contents, with no significant association between the host or location variables and infection. Archived small intestinal (SI) tissue from a hedgehog with histological evidence of cryptosporidiosis was also positive for C. parvum by PCR and sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. No other Cryptosporidium species were detected. PCR and sequencing of the glycoprotein 60 gene identified three known zoonotic C. parvum subtypes not previously found in hedgehogs: IIdA17G1 (n=4), IIdA19G1 (n=1) and IIdA24G1 (n=1). These subtypes are also known to infect livestock. Another faecal sample contained C. parvum IIcA5G3j which has been found previously in hedgehogs, and for which there is one published report in a human, but is not known to affect livestock. The presence of zoonotic subtypes of C. parvum in British hedgehogs highlights a potential public health concern. Further research is needed to better understand the epidemiology and potential impacts of Cryptosporidium infection in hedgehogs

Editing of the urease gene by CRISPR-Cas in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana

Background: CRISPR-Cas is a recent and powerful addition to the molecular toolbox which allows programmable genome editing. It has been used to modify genes in a wide variety of organisms, but only two alga to date. Here we present a methodology to edit the genome of Thalassiosira pseudonana, a model centric diatom with both ecological significance and high biotechnological potential, using CRISPR-Cas. Results: A single construct was assembled using Golden Gate cloning. Two sgRNAs were used to introduce a precise 37 nt deletion early in the coding region of the urease gene. A high percentage of bi-allelic mutations (≤61.5%) were observed in clones with the CRISPR-Cas construct. Growth of bi-allelic mutants in urea led to a significant reduction in growth rate and cell size compared to growth in nitrate. Conclusions: CRISPR-Cas can precisely and efficiently edit the genome of T. pseudonana. The use of Golden Gate cloning to assemble CRISPR-Cas constructs gives additional flexibility to the CRISPR-Cas method and facilitates modifications to target alternative genes or species

Replacing pork-beef raw material in homogenized sausages with mechanically sectioned poultry meat after high pressure and low pressure separation

Celem pracy było porównanie wybranych wyróżników jakości parówek wytworzonych przez jednego z polskich producentów z surowców o różnej przydatności technologicznej. Analizie poddano 4 warianty kiełbas. Wariant WK – kiełbasa wyprodukowana z mięsa wieprzowego i wołowego, które w pozostałych wariantach doświadczalnych zastąpiono odpowiednio przez: WM – mięso drobiowe oddzielone mechanicznie (MDOM) uzyskane po separacji wysokociśnieniowej, WB – MDOM uzyskane po separacji niskociśnieniowej oraz WMB – MDOM uzyskane po separacji wysoko- i niskociśnieniowej. Jakość kiełbas oceniano po 24 h i po 2 tygodniach przechowywania w warunkach chłodniczych, na podstawie wyróżników fizycznych, chemicznych i sensorycznych. Stwierdzono, że zastosowanie do produkcji parówek (WM, WB, WMB) mięsa drobiowego oddzielonego mechanicznie pozwoliło na zmniejszenie kosztów surowców bez obniżenia jakości sensorycznej kiełbas, w porównaniu z kiełbasą wieprzowo-wołową (WK). Kiełbasy WM, WB i WMB zawierały istotnie mniej tłuszczu, cechowały się ciemniejszą barwą oraz mniejszą siłą cięcia niż kiełbasa WK. Utlenianie lipidów w parówkach z MDOM zachodziło nieznacznie szybciej niż w kiełbasie wieprzowo-wołowej.The objective of the study was to compare the selected quality characteristics of frankfurters manufactured by one of the Polish producers with the use of raw materials showing different technological usefulness. 4 sausage variants were analyzed. The WK control product variant was a sausage made from pork and beef meat. In the remaining three experimental product variants, this raw material was replaced with the following, respectively: in the WM product variant: with mechanically sectioned poultry meat (MSPM) after high-pressure separation; in the WB variant: with MSPM after low-pressure separation; in the WMB variant: with MSPM after high- and low-pressure separation. The quality of sausages was assessed after 24 h and 2 weeks of cold storage based on the physical, chemical, and sensory characteristics determined. It was found that the application of MSPM to manufacture the frankfurters (WM, WB, and WMB) made it possible to reduce the cost of raw materials without deteriorating the sensory quality of sausages compared to pork and beef sausages (WK). The WM, WB, and WMB frankfurters contained significantly less fat, were characterized by a significantly darker colour and by a lower shear force than the WK frankfurters. The oxidation rate of lipids in the MDOM frankfurters was insignificantly higher than in the pork and beef frankfurters

Zależność między wiekiem a stresem oksydacyjnym u wysokowydajnych krów rasy polskiej holsztyńsko-fryzyjskiej po szczycie laktacji

Relationship between the parity and oxidative stress in high-performance Polish Holstein-Friesian cows after the peak of lactation. There are many factors, which may expose cows attacks of free radicals. The highest level of oxidative stress appears in the parturition period and at the peak of lactation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between the parity and oxidative stress in high-performance Polish Holstein-Friesian (PHF) cows after the peak of lactation. Seventy PHF cows were selected for the experimentaccording to: age (35 primiparous and 35 multiparous in the second lactation) and stage of lactation (after the peak of lactation; at 61-90days in milk). Samples of milk and blood were collected in monthly intervals, from 61-90till >271 day of lactation. Study results demonstrated a significant impact of the parity and days in milk of cows on the formation of oxidative stress markers. The primiparous cows were characterized by lower levels of Glu Red and Gpx. The lowest level of oxidative stress was observed in the months after the peak to about 250 days of lactation. Based on study results, it can be concluded that that younger animals were more exposed to free radicals and oxidative stress.Zależność między wiekiem a stresem oksydacyjnym u wysokowydajnych krów rasy polskiej holsztyńsko-fryzyjskiej po szczycie laktacji. Zdolność antyoksydacyjna to zdolność organizmu do usuwania reaktywnych form tlenu, które powodują stres oksydacyjny w organizmie. Istnieje wiele czynników, które mogą narazić krowy na ataki wolnych rodników. Najwyższy poziom stresu oksydacyjnego pojawia się w okresie porodu i w szczycie laktacji. Celem tego doświadczenia było wykazanie związku między wiekiem a poziomem stresu oksydacyjnym u wysokowydajnych krów rasy polskiej holsztyńsko-fryzyjskiej (PHF) po szczycie laktacji. Do eksperymentu wybrano 70 krów PHF według: wieku (35 pierwiastek i 35 wieloródek w drugiej laktacji) i fazy laktacji (po szczycie laktacji, między 61-90 dniem laktacji). Próbki mleka i krwi pobierano w miesięcznych odstępach, od 61-90 do > 271. dnia laktacji. Badania wykazały istotny wpływ wieku krów i fazy laktacji na kształtowanie się markerów stresu oksydacyjnego. Pierwiastki charakteryzowały się niższym poziomem Glu Red i Gpx. Najniższy poziom stresu oksydacyjnego wykazano w miesiącach po szczycie i do około 250. dnia laktacji. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników można stwierdzić, że młodsze zwierzęta były bardziej narażone na działanie wolnych rodników i stres oksydacyjny