Effect of Listeria monocytogenes inoculation, sodium acetate and nisin on microbiological and chemical quality of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella during refrigeration storage

In this study, the microbiological quality and lipid oxidation of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fillets treated by dipping in sodium acetate (0, 1 and 3%), nisin (0, 0.1 and 0.2%) or their combination were evaluated during 16 days of refrigeration storage. Antilisterial effect of nisin was enhanced with the increased concentration of sodium acetate. With increasing the concentrations of sodium acetate, mesophilic counts were lower but regarding nisin, better results were obtained by applying 0.1% nisin. Greater inhibition of mesophile bacteria was observed when combination treatment was used. The number of lactobacillus was lower when higher concentrations of sodium acetate and nisin were used. Peroxide, TBA and total viable base nitrogen (TVB-N) values were lower in the samples treated with both nisin and sodium acetate and higher results were obtained in the combination treatments.Key words: Listeria monocytogenes, nisin, sodium acetate, microbial quality, chemical quality, grass carp

Manipulation of photoperiod in growth factors of beluga sturgeon Huso huso

The beluga sturgeon is considered as the most important species for caviar production. This study aimed to evaluate effects of photoperiod manipulation on growth factors of beluga sturgeon. The six photoperiod regimes (light: dark cycle) including natural photoperiod (control), 24L : 0D, 16L : 8D, 12L : 12D, 8L : 16D and 0L : 24D with the three replicates. The treatment 5 (8L: 16D) gained the greatest final weight (2194.4 g) after 73 rearing days and besides, the treatments 4, 3 and 1 (12L : 12D, 16L : 8D, and Control) can be considered as the good photoperiod regimes for beluga sturgeon. The continuous light (24L : 0D) and continuous dark (0L : 24D) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the final weight of fish to 1804.2 g and 1976.1 g, respectively. Regulated photoperiod significantly improve growth rate and food conversion ratio of beluga sturgeon

Comparison of blood indices in healthy and fungal infected Caspian salmon (Salmo trutta caspius)

Hematological parameters were measured for 27 healthy and 20 fungal infected Caspian salmon. White blood cells (WBC), neutrophile, and eosinophile have higher values (P < 0.05) in fungal infected fishesthan healthy Caspian salmon. The other parameters like hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), red blood cells (RBC), lymphocyte, and monocyte were greater in healthy Caspian salmon. Weight of healthy fishes had positive significant correlation with WBC. However, a negative correlation was seen between length and weight of fungal infected samples and WBC

Cancer in the spotlight: Using intravital imaging in cancer research

Intravital imaging can provide unique insights into cancer biology and has been particularly useful for research into therapy responses, metastasis, and immune responses. Here, we discuss the protocols that we routinely use for intravital imaging of mammary tumors to follow drug responses and for imaging of lungs to study metastatic seeding. These methods include: (1) the skin-flap technique used to image mammary tumors in a single, long experiment; (2) the use of an implantable imaging window for long-term serial imaging of mammary glands; and (3) the use of a thoracic window for intravital imaging of lungs to study the processes involved in the metastatic spread to lungs. We discuss common technical issues encountered when using each of these methods and provide our solutions for overcoming them. Finally, we discuss some of the exciting, new techniques on the horizon for intravital imaging in cancer biology