Complete mitochondrial genome of Metapenaeus affinis (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) and Metapenaeus ensis (De Haan, 1844)

Penaeid shrimp is one of the marine germplasm resources in tropical and subtropical regions. To better understand shrimp germplasm resources and develop cultured shrimp species, the complete mitochondrial genome of Metapenaeus affinis and Metapenaeus ensis was assembled. The length of M. affinis and M. ensis mitochondrial sequences is 15,957 and 15,943, respectively. Both mitochondrial sequences contain 13 protein coding, 22 tRNA, and two rRNA genes. The GC content of the genome was 34.23% and 34.12% in M. affinis and M. ensis, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the M. affinis and M. ensis are closely related, and assigned to a branch of Metapenaeus. We assembled and published the mitochondrial genome sequences of these two species, which will provide important information for the research and utilization of shrimp germplasm resources

Association analysis of alpha-amylase (AMY) and cathepsin L (CTSL) SNPs with growth traits in giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

Alpha-amylase (AMY) and cathepsin-L (CTSL) were selected as candidate genes for SNP discovery for growth traits of P. monodon. Six SNPs were found in AMY and three in CTSL in P. monodon. Association analyses for the candidate SNPs with important economic traits were performed in populations. That allele A at CTLS-213 SNP, AA, and GA, tended to be associated with increased body weight. Shrimps with genotype GG had significantly smaller CL, CW, and CH values than those with GT and TT genotypes (P < 0.05). While CTLS-820 SNP was found to be significantly associated with CH and FSL (P <0.05). These SNPs will be valid for marker-assisted selection breeding programs in P. monodon

Effects of replacing dietary fishmeal with zymolytic black soldier fly larvae on the growth performance of the mud crab (<em>scylla paramamosain</em>) larvae

Black soldier fly have been shown to be one of the optimal alternatives to fishmeal, but there are few reports on the effects of zymolytic black soldier fly larvae (ZBSFL) on the growth and digestion of crustaceans. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of different replacement levels of ZBFLS on growth performance, body composition, and digestive enzyme activity of the mud crab larvae. Four diets were formulated by replacing fishmeal with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% ZBSFL in the basal diet. Crab larvae were randomly divided into four groups of three replicates each and fed twice daily. The results showed that the SR of crab larvae was higher than that of the no-substitution group when the substitution rate reached 5% (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in SR when the substitution rate was further increased. Weight growth rate and Specific growth rate were similar, both highest at 10% substitution ratio. The crude protein content of whole crab larvae gradually increased as the proportion of FM substituted by ZBSFL increased. The lipid content of whole crab larvae in the 5% substitution ratio group was significantly higher than that in all other groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile. The activities of amylase, protease and lipase gradually increased. In this experiment, when the percentage of ZBSFL substitution for FM reached 10%, its growth performance was optimal, with higher SR, less negative effects and more balanced indicators in all aspects. When the substitution rate was further increased, it might increase the digestive burden of the crab and negatively affect its growth

GCTOF-MS Combined LC-QTRAP-MS/MS Reveals Metabolic Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Osteoporotic Osteoarthritis and the Intervention Effect of Erxian Decoction

PurposeOP and OA are chronic bone diseases with high incidence in the middle-aged and elderly populations. The latest research shows that the pathological environment of OP may be involved in the aggravation of the pathological process of OA, and the pathological state of OP plays an important role in the aggravation of OA pathology. EXD is a traditional Chinese medicine decoction that has been used to treat osteoporosis. Therefore, we further study whether OA will be aggravated in the OP environment and whether EXD can alleviate OA by intervening in the OP environment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of OP on OA metabolites by using metabolomic methods and to explore the intervention mechanism of EXD on osteoporotic OA.MethodThirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, OA group, OP-OA group, and EXD group. EXD was administered by gavage. Histopathological evaluation of cartilage tissue was performed using Saffron fast green and HE staining. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression levels of chondrogenesis genes SOX9, COL2A1, and COMP in cartilage tissue. GC-TOFMS and LC-QTRAP-MS/MS metabolomics methods were used to analyze the changes of metabolites in serum samples of rats in each group.ResultThe slice results showed that the cartilage damage in the OP-OA group was more serious than that in the OA group, which was significantly relieved after EXD intervention, indicating that the cartilage damage in the OP-OA group was more severe than that in the OA group and further reduced the protein and gene expressions of cartilage markers SOX9, COL2A1, and COMP. Thirty-seven substances were identified, and gentiopicroside, emodin, quercetin, and diosmetin were analyzed as possible active components of EXD. EXD treatment significantly reduced cartilage damage and reversed the expression of these markers. Metabolomics showed that EXD attenuated cartilage destruction by modulating the expression of cystine, chenodeoxycholate, and D-Turanose, involving glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pantothenate, and CoA biosynthesis metabolic pathways.ConclusionThe OP environment may promote the progression of OA through metabolic factors. The benign intervention of EXD in osteoporotic OA involves cystine, chenodeoxycholate, and D-Turanose, and their associated glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pantothenate, and CoA biosynthesis metabolic pathways. Therefore, we have a deep understanding of the metabolic-related intervention of EXD in osteoporotic OA and are eager to better understand the mechanism of multi-targeted intervention of EXD in bone metabolic lesions

<i>Trans</i>-vaccenic acid reprograms CD8⁺ T cells and anti-tumour immunity

Diet-derived nutrients are inextricably linked to human physiology by providing energy and biosynthetic building blocks and by functioning as regulatory molecules. However, the mechanisms by which circulating nutrients in the human body influence specific physiological processes remain largely unknown. Here we use a blood nutrient compound library-based screening approach to demonstrate that dietary trans-vaccenic acid (TVA) directly promotes effector CD8+ T cell function and anti-tumour immunity in vivo. TVA is the predominant form of trans-fatty acids enriched in human milk, but the human body cannot produce TVA endogenously. Circulating TVA in humans is mainly from ruminant-derived foods including beef, lamb and dairy products such as milk and butter, but only around 19% or 12% of dietary TVA is converted to rumenic acid by humans or mice, respectively. Mechanistically, TVA inactivates the cell-surface receptor GPR43, an immunomodulatory G protein-coupled receptor activated by its short-chain fatty acid ligands. TVA thus antagonizes the short-chain fatty acid agonists of GPR43, leading to activation of the cAMP–PKA–CREB axis for enhanced CD8+ T cell function. These findings reveal that diet-derived TVA represents a mechanism for host-extrinsic reprogramming of CD8+ T cells as opposed to the intrahost gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids. TVA thus has translational potential for the treatment of tumours

Enhancement of total sugar and lignin yields through dissolution of poplar wood by hot water and dilute acid flowthrough pretreatment

BACKGROUND: Pretreatment is a vital but expensive step in biomass biofuel production. Overall, most of this past effort has been directed at maximizing sugar yields from hemicellulose and cellulose through trials with different chemicals, operating conditions, and equipment configurations. Flowthrough pretreatment provides a promising platform to dissolution of lignocellulosic biomass to generate high yields of fermentable sugars and lignin for biofuels productions. RESULTS: Dissolution of xylan, lignin, and cellulose from poplar wood were significantly enhanced by water-only and dilute acid (0.05% w/w, H(2)SO(4)) flowthrough pretreatment when the temperature was raised from 200°C to 280°C over a range of flow rates 10-62.5 mL/min, resulting in more than 98% solid removal. Up to 40% of original xylan was converted to xylose in the hydrolyzate and the rest xylan was solubilized into xylooligomers with negligible furfural formation. Up to 100% cellulose was removed into hydrolyzate with the highest glucose yield of 60% and low 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) formation. The maximal recovered insoluble lignin and soluble lignin were 98% and 15% of original lignin, respectively. In addition, enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated whole slurries was characterized under various enzyme loadings with or without Bovine serum albumin (BSA) treatment. More than 90% glucose yield and 95% xylose yield were obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis of dilute acid pretreated whole slurries with 10 mg protein Ctec 2 with 2 mg Htec2/g glucan + xylan. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly complete dissolution of whole biomass was realized through water-only and dilute acid flowthrough pretreatment under tested conditions. Temperature was considered as the most significant factor for cellulose degradation. The cellulose removal significantly increased as temperature reached 240°C for water-only and 220°C for dilute acid. Dilute acid pretreatment resulted in higher yields of recovered xylan and cellulose as monomeric sugars in the hydrolyzate than that for water-only pretreatment. Enzymes readily hydrolyzed the degraded cellulose and xylooligomers in pretreatment hydrolysate. Results suggested that kinetics controlled the flowthrough pretreatment of biomass dissolution, which was also affected by flow rate to certain extent

Variation of bacterial communities in black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) with different growth performances

The intestinal bacteria of aquatic animals are closely related to their health and growth status. Penaeus monodon has become an important aquaculture species in the world because of its high nutritional value and market to demand. However, knowledge of bacterial communities on the growth phenotype of P. monodon is still limited. In this research, the bacterial community were comprehensively analyzed by using Miseq sequencing technology and bioinformatics. The results indicated that 29 phyla and 468 genera were identified by the taxonomic sequence. The data showed that the composition of microbial community was statistically different to fast-growing shrimps and slow-growing shrimps. There were significant differences in intestinal bacteria at the genus level. Lactococcus, Limnothrix, and Arthrospira had more abundance in the gut of fast-growing shrimps, which may promote the growth of P. monodon by affecting enzyme activities and improving immune response. Nautella, Shimia, Pseudoalteromonas, Aliiroseovarius, Albimonas, Tessaracoccus had more abundance in the gut of slow-growing shrimps. Nautella had the ability to express virulence by stimulated by environmental factors, thereby increasing the susceptibility to infection, which may have a negative impact on healthy growth of shrimps. Pseudoalteromonas, Aliiroseovarius and Shimia were related to the pathogenicity of shrimp, which may be an important factor affecting the growth of shrimp. Overall, this study demonstrates that the bacterial community associated with P. monodon was variation on different growth performance. These results can provide information on microbiome characteristics involved in the asynchronous growth of shrimp