Ulvan Activates Chicken Heterophils and Monocytes Through Toll-Like Receptor 2 and Toll-Like Receptor 4

Responsiveness to invasive pathogens, clearance via the inflammatory response, and activation of appropriate acquired responses are all coordinated by innate host defenses. Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands are potent immune-modulators with profound effects on the generation of adaptive immune responses. This property is being exploited in TLR-based vaccines and therapeutic agents in chickens. However, for administering the TLR agonist, all previous studies used in ovo, intra-muscular or intra-venous routes that cannot be performed in usual farming conditions, thus highlighting the need for TLR ligands that display systemic immune effects when given orally (per os). Here we have demonstrated that an ulvan extract of Ulva armoricana is able to activate avian heterophils and monocytes in vitro. Using specific inhibitors, we have evidenced that ulvan may be a new ligand for TLR2 and TLR4; and that they regulate heterophil activation in slightly different manner. Moreover, activation of heterophils as well as of monocytes leads to release pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin1-β, interferon α and interferon γ, through pathways that we partly identified. Finally, when given per os to animals ulvan induces heterophils and monocytes to be activated in vivo thus leading to a transient release of pro-inflammatory cytokines with plasma concentrations returning toward baseline levels at day 3

In Silico Survey of the Mitochondrial Protein Uptake and Maturation Systems in the Brown Alga Ectocarpus siliculosus

The acquisition of mitochondria was a key event in eukaryote evolution. The aim of this study was to identify homologues of the components of the mitochondrial protein import machinery in the brown alga Ectocarpus and to use this information to investigate the evolutionary history of this fundamental cellular process. Detailed searches were carried out both for components of the protein import system and for related peptidases. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses were used to investigate the evolution of mitochondrial proteins during eukaryote diversification. Key observations include phylogenetic evidence for very ancient origins for many protein import components (Tim21, Tim50, for example) and indications of differences between the outer membrane receptors that recognize the mitochondrial targeting signals, suggesting replacement, rearrangement and/or emergence of new components across the major eukaryotic lineages. Overall, the mitochondrial protein import components analysed in this study confirmed a high level of conservation during evolution, indicating that most are derived from very ancient, ancestral proteins. Several of the protein import components identified in Ectocarpus, such as Tim21, Tim50 and metaxin, have also been found in other stramenopiles and this study suggests an early origin during the evolution of the eukaryotes

Polar lipids of commercial Ulva spp. of different origins: profiling and relevance for seaweed valorization

Macroalgae of the genus Ulva have long been used as human food. Local environmental conditions, among other factors, can have an impact on their nutrient and phytochemical composition, as well as on the value of the seaweed for food and non-food applications. This study is the first to initiate a comparison between commercial Ulva spp. from different European origins, France (FR, wild-harvested Ulva spp.), and Portugal (PT, farm-raised Ulva rigida), in terms of proximate composition, esterified fatty acids (FA), and polar lipids. The ash content was higher in PT samples, while FR samples had higher levels of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates and other compounds. The profile of esterified FA, as well as FA-containing polar lipids at the class and species levels were also significantly different. The FR samples showed about three-fold higher amount of n-3 polyunsaturated FA, while PT samples showed two-fold higher content of monounsaturated FA. Quantification of glycolipids and phospholipids revealed, respectively, two-fold and three-fold higher levels in PT samples. Despite the differences found, the polar lipids identified in both batches included some lipid species with recognized bioactivity, valuing Ulva biomass with functional properties, increasing their added value, and promoting new applications, namely in nutraceutical and food markets.UIDB/50011/2020+UIDP/50011/2020, UID/QUI/00062/2019, UIDB/50006/2020, UIDB/50017/2020+UIDP/50017/2020, LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-402-022125, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030962, BPD/UI51/5041/2017, BPD/UI51/5042/2018; EC/H2020/727892/EUinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Les algues vertes, l’alternative aux antibiotiques qui stimule la réponse immunitaire

National audienceDans le cadre d’un partenariat avec le groupe OLMIX, des chercheurs de l’Inra ont montré qu’un extrait d’algues vertes inhibe in vitro la croissance de bactéries pathogènes et stimule la production de médiateurs de l’immunité par des cellules épithéliales intestinales. Prometteurs, ces résultats préliminaires montrent qu’une telle préparation pourrait être utilisée dans l’alimentation des animaux d’élevage pour améliorer leur robustesse face aux infections et ainsi réduire l’utilisation des antibiotiques

Des algues pour améliorer l'immunité animale

National audienc

Targeted sphingolipidomics indicates increased C22-C24:16 ratios of virtually all assayed classes in liver, kidney, and plasma of fumonisin-fed chickens

The biological properties of sphinganine-(d18:0)-, sphingosine-(d18:1)-, deoxysphinganine-(m18: 0)-, deoxysphingosine-(m18:1)-, deoxymethylsphinganine-(m17:0)-, deoxymethylsphingosine-(m17:1)-, sphingadienine-(d18:2)-, and phytosphingosine-(t18:0)-sphingolipids have been reported to vary, but little is known about the effects of fumonisins, which are mycotoxins that inhibit ceramide synthase, on sphingolipids other than those containing d18:0 and d18:1. Thirty chickens divided into three groups received a control diet or a diet containing 14.6 mg FB1 + FB2/kg for 14 and 21 days. No effects on health or performance were observed, while the effects on sphingoid bases, ceramides, sphingomyelins, and glycosylceramides in liver, kidney, and plasma varied. The t18:0 forms were generally unaffected by fumonisins, while numerous effects were found for m18:0, m18:1, d18:2, and the corresponding ceramides, and these effects appeared to be similar to those observed for d18:0-, and d18:1-ceramides. Partial least square discriminant analysis showed that d18:1- and d18:0-sphingolipids are important variables for explaining the partitioning of chickens into different groups according to fumonisins feeding, while m17:1-, m18:0-, m18:1-, d18:2-, and t18:0-sphingolipids are not. Interestingly, the C22-C24:C16 ratios measured for each class of sphingolipid increased in fumonisin-fed chickens in the three assayed matrices, whereas the total amounts of the sphingolipid classes varied. The potential use of C22-C24:C16 ratios as biomarkers requires further study

A randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial comparing versus placebo the effect of an edible algal extract (Ulva Lactuca) on the component of depression in healthy volunteers with anhedonia

Abstract Background The effects of the seaweed extract were evaluated on the animal model equivalent of depression compared with a control group treated with the carrier (spring water) and a reference group treated with Imipramine and showed significative effect. This clinical trial was intended to confirm in humans the potential efficacy identified in animals. The primary objective was to compare against a placebo the effect of Ulva L.L extract in healthy volunteers whose anhedonia was characterized by a component of depression. Methods Single-centre double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial on parallel arms of two groups of 45 subjects. The study could include men or women aged 18 to 65 years with anhedonia characterized by a Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale score (SHAPS) of ≥5 and feeling low morale for at least four weeks characterized by a component of depression evaluated on the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology – Self Report (QIDS–SR). Evaluation criteria: QIDS-SR; Patient Global Improvement Impression (PGII) and Clinical Global Improvement Impression (CGII). Results 86 subjects were included in the trial: 42 in the placebo group and 44 Ulva group. At D84, QIDS-SR significantly decreased more in the Ulva.L.L. group than in the placebo group (p: 0.0389). This difference is essentially linked to an improvement of the sleep disorders (p: 0.0219), of the psychomotor consequences (p: 0.002) and of the nutrition behaviour (p: 0.0694). 90.1% have the feeling of being improved in the Ulva group vs 72.5% in the placebo group (p: 0.0114) and in parallel 90.9% of the practitioners have the feeling that the subject has improved vs 70.8% (p: 0.0214). Conclusion This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial shows that daily intake for three months of a water-soluble extract of Ulva L.L. continues to significantly improve the component of depression of subjects presenting anhedonia compared with a placebo. Trial registration Trial retrospectively registred on ClinicalTrial.gov under ID: NCT03545399 Date: 05/22/2018

Green algae ulvan fraction displays dual functions in gut protection via bacterial growth inhibition and immunomodulatory activity

International audienc

Immune modulating activities of sulfated polysaccharides of green algae (Ulva armoricana) extract

International audienc

Macroalgae extracts limits Marek’s disease virus load and dissemination in vitro.

Marek’s disease (MD) is a highly contagious lymphoproliferative disease of chickens caused by an alphaherpesvirus, Marek’s disease virus (MDV). MD is presently controlled by systematic vaccination of animals, which protects efficiently against clinical disease. However, MDV vaccines do not prevent the multiplication and spread of MDV field strains generating immunosuppression. They may also favor the emergence of strains with increased virulence. Therefore, MDV persists to be a major problem for the poultry industry generating economic losses estimated at 1-2 billion dollars per year. The development of new sustainable alternative strategies to control MDV is needed. Macroalgae extracts have previously been shown to exert antiviral and immunomodulatory activities that could support the animals to better resist to this challenge.The objective of the study was to explore the effect of sulphated green macroalgae (Ulva sp.) extract (MSP®IMMUNITY) on MDV infection in vitro. To determine the impact on MDV lytic replication, chick embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) were infected and treated with increasing doses of the algae extract. The viral load was quantified at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours post infection (hpi) by qPCR. The results showed the treatments significantly decreased MDV lytic replication in CEFs in a dose-dependent manner with the strongest effect observed with concentrations of 1ml/l. From 24 hpi, the viral load was reduced by about 80% with the algae extract at a concentration of 2ml/l and this is maintained over time and reached 94% at 96 hpi, A substantial decrease in MDV plaque size (from 2 to 3 fold) was demonstrated suggesting that macroalgae extract impede MDV cell-to-cell spread in vitro. This study provides the first evidence that the use of the macroalgae extracts could be a good alternative to limit MDV infection in poultry