Excess dietary tryptophan mitigates aflatoxicosis in growing quails

A biological assay was carried out to evaluate the impact of dietary tryptophan (TRP) in aflatoxin B -contaminated diets (AFB -D) on performance, blood parameters, immunity, meat quality and microbial populations of intestine in Japanese quails. Six experimental diets were formulated to include two levels of dietary TRP; 2.9 (moderate high: MH-TRP) and 4.9\ua0g/kg (excess: Ex-TRP); and three levels of AFB (0.0, 2.5, and 5.0\ua0mg/kg). Each experimental diet was fed to the one of the six groups of birds from 7 to 35\ua0days of age in a completely randomized design with 2\ua0×\ua03 factorial arrangement. Decrease in feed intake, body weight gain and gain:feed in birds fed 5.0\ua0mg/kg AFB -D was restored to the control level by 4.9\ua0g TRP/kg of the diet. The hepatic enzymes in blood were elevated in quails fed on AFB -D but attenuated by 4.9\ua0g TRP/kg of the diet (Ex-TRP; p\ua0≤\ua0.01). High serum uric acid in birds challenged with AFB significantly decreased by Ex-TRP (p\ua0≤\ua0.01). The skin thickness to 2,4-dinitro-1-chlorobenzene challenge suppressed by AFB but increased by Ex-TRP diet (p\ua0≤\ua0.02). The AFB increased the malondialdehyde in meat, whereas TRP efficiently diminished malondialdehyde production (p\ua0≤\ua0.01). The greatest drip loss and pH in meat were observed in the birds fed 5.0\ua0mg/kg AFB -D but Ex-TRP augmented the adverse effects of AFB (p\ua0≤\ua0.01). The Ex-TRP reduced the total microbial and Escherichia coli counts (p\ua0≤\ua0.01). The adverse effect of AFB on ileal Lactic acid bacteria was completely prevented by Ex-TRP (p\ua0≤\ua0.03). This study showed that tryptophan supplementation could be considered as a powerful nutritional tool to ameliorate the adverse effects of AFB in growing quails

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern and Prevalence of Extended-Spectrum beta-Lactamase Genotypes among Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumanii in Tabriz, North-West of Iran

Background: Multidrug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumanii strains have emerged as novel nosocomial pathogens threatening patients' lives, especially in intensive-care units (ICU). Various types of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are involved in conferring resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, making their genotypic characterization an essential prerequisite to take proper preventative measures

Comparing mRNA expression and protein abundance in MDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Novel protein candidates, Rv0443, Rv0379 and Rv0147 as TB potential diagnostic or therapeutic targets

Tuberculosis (TB) is a sizable public health threat in the world. This study was conducted to determine the differential protein composition between susceptible and MDRTB strains. Tuberculosis proteins were extracted by Triton™ X-114 and ammonium sulfate. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis protein spots were selected for identification by mass spectrometry and mRNA expression levels were measured by real- time PCR.2DE-Western blot and T cell epitope prediction for identified proteins were made by the IEDB server. The result shows at least six protein spots (Rv0147, Rv3597c, Rv0379, Rv3699, Rv1392 and Rv0443) were differentially expressed in MDRTB isolates. However, difference in mRNA gene expression was not found in the six mRNA genes.2DE-Western blot procedures indicated strong reaction against MDRTB proteins corresponds to 13, 16 and 55 kDa areas that might be used as new diagnostic tools. In conclusion, these MDRTB proteins identified in this study could be reliable TB diagnostic candidates or therapeutic targets

Climate smart process design for current and future methanol production

As the global methanol industry faces greater financial constraints imposed by climate change mitigation, climate smart process design aligned to low carbon operations takes precedence. Here we present multiple decision criteria facilitated by techno-economic and environmental assessments, to better inform decision-making on current and future climate smart methanol production utilizing; steam methane reforming (SMR), auto-thermal reforming (ATR), methane pyrolysis (pyrolysis) and electrolysis. Our results highlight energy inefficiencies aligned to SMR cases affiliated with high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Despite its unsustainable operations, SMR dominates amongst methanol technologies with lower annualized costs, illustrating the need for viable transition to low carbon operations within current methanol production. Considering future technologies, both pyrolysis and electrolysis offer sustainable solutions, however, pyrolysis presents noticeable profitability over solar driven electrolysis. Incorporation of decarbonization strategies through resource circular CO2 utilization and storage, with subsequent environmental penalties, reveals ATR and pyrolysis as applicable climate smart technologies within the current methanol market value chain. These results were further supported considering sensitivity analyses and contextual implications associated with domestic and global socio-economic, political and legislative frameworks, confirming ATR and pyrolysis as the premiere choices for low carbon operations. Overall, these findings underpin viable climate smart process design informing and promoting greater sustainable operations within unsustainable economies