Protein turnover in pigs: A review of interacting factors.

Protein turnover defines the balance between two continuous and complex processes of protein metabolism, synthesis and degradation, which determine their deposition in tissues. Although the liver and intestine have been studied extensively for their important roles in protein digestion, absorption and metabolism, the study of protein metabolism has focused mainly on skeletal muscle tissue to understand the basis for its growth. Due to the high adaptability of skeletal muscle, its protein turnover is greatly affected by different internal and external factors, contributing to carcass lean-yield and animal growth.

Measurement of Methane and Ammonia Emissions from Compost-Bedded Pack Systems in Dairy Barns: Tilling Effect and Seasonal Variations.

Dairy cattle contribute to environmental harm as a source of polluting gas emissions, mainly of enteric origin, but also from manure management, which varies among housing systems. Compost-bedded pack systems use manure as bedding material, which is composted in situ daily. As current literature referring to their impact on NH and CH emissions is scarce, this study aims to characterize the emissions of these two gases originating from three barns of this system, differentiating between two emission phases: static emission and dynamic emission.

First Steps into Ruminal Microbiota Robustness.

Despite its central role in ruminant nutrition, little is known about ruminal microbiota robustness, which is understood as the ability of the microbiota to cope with disturbances. The aim of the present review is to offer a comprehensive description of microbial robustness, as well as its potential drivers, with special focus on ruminal microbiota. First, we provide a briefing on the current knowledge about ruminal microbiota.

Age Evolution of Lipid Accretion Rate in Boars Selected for Lean Meat and Duroc Barrows.

Fatty acid (FA) deposition in growing-fattening pigs is mainly based on endogenous lipid synthesis, but also direct FA incorporation from the diet. To evaluate the direct fat incorporation rates and the endogenous desaturation action of the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) enzyme, a deuterium (D)-labeled saturated FA (d-C18:0) was added to the diet. Sixteen three-way (3W) crossbred boars, and thirty-two purebred Duroc barrows homozygous for the single nucleotide polymorphism rs80912566 (16 CC/16 TT), were used.

The Impact of Genetics on Gut Microbiota of Growing and Fattening Pigs under Moderate N Restriction.

Characterization of intestinal microbiota is of great interest due to its relevant impact on growth, feed efficiency and pig carcass quality. Microbial composition shifts along the gut, but it also depends on the host (i.e.

Microbial fermentation of starch- or fibre-rich feeds added with dry or pre-activated Saccharomyces cerevisiae studied in vitro under conditions simulating high-concentrate feeding for ruminants.

Background: To study if the effect on fermentation of yeasts added in ruminant diets can be improved, the effect of adding dry (DY) or pre-activated (AY) Saccharomyces cerevisiae, compared with unsupplemented rumen fluid (CT), on barley grain or sugar beet pulp was evaluated under in vitro high-concentrate fermentative conditions. Yeasts were pre-activated by culturing aerobically at 30 °C for 24 h.

Results: In Experiment 1, AY showed a higher concentration than DY at 6 h incubation (6.

Effect of dietary fat to starch content on fecal microbiota composition and activity in dogs1.

Dietary fat is known to modulate the hindgut microbiota in rodents; however, there is no clear evidence on the impact of high-fat diets on canine gut microbiota. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding of diets differing in the amount of ME provided by fat and starch on the composition and activity of canine fecal microbiota. Twelve adult (3 to 7 yr of age) spayed Beagle dogs received a low-fat-high-starch diet (LF-HS; approximately 23%, 42%, and 25% ME provided by fat, starch, and CP, respectively) and a high-fat-low-starch diet (HF-LS; approximately 43%, 22%, and 25% ME provided by fat, starch, and CP, respectively) following a 2-period crossover arrangement.

Improving the antiprotozoal effect of saponins in the rumen by combination with glycosidase inhibiting iminosugars or by modification of their chemical structure.

The antiprotozoal effect of saponins is transitory, as when saponins are deglycosylated to sapogenins by rumen microorganisms they become inactive. We hypothesised that the combination of saponins with glycosidase-inhibiting iminosugars might potentially increase the effectiveness of saponins over time by preventing their deglycosylation in the rumen. Alternatively, modifying the structure of the saponins by substituting the sugar moiety with other small polar residues might maintain their activity as the sugar substitute would not be enzymatically cleaved.

Functional Resilience and Response to a Dietary Additive (Kefir) in Models of Foregut and Hindgut Microbial Fermentation .

Stability in gut ecosystems is an important area of study that impacts on the use of additives and is related with several pathologies. Kefir is a fermented milk drink made with a consortium of yeast and bacteria as a fermentation starter, of which the use as additive in companion and livestock animals has increased in the last few years. To investigate the effect of kefir milk on foregut and hindgut digestive systems, an approach was followed.

Antiprotozoal Effect of Saponins in the Rumen Can Be Enhanced by Chemical Modifications in Their Structure.

The antiprotozoal effect of saponins is transitory, as when saponins are deglycosylated to the sapogenin by rumen microorganisms they become inactive. We postulated that the substitution of the sugar moiety of the saponin with small polar residues would produce sapogen-like analogs which might be resistant to degradation in the rumen as they would not be enzymatically cleaved, allowing the antiprotozoal effect to persist over time. In this study, we used an acute assay based on the ability of protozoa to break down [C] leucine-labeled and a longer term assay based on protozoal motility over 24 h to evaluate both the antiprotozoal effect and the stability of this effect with fifteen hederagenin -esters esterified with two identical groups, and five cholesterol and cholic acid based derivatives carrying one to three succinate residues.

Ciliate protozoa of the forestomach of llamas (Lama glama) from locations at different altitude in Argentina.

This study describes the diversity and concentration of the protozoal population from the forestomach of llamas in Argentina at three altitudinal locations. Protozoal diversity was studied in samples from eight llamas from Hurlingham (Buenos Aires, 43 m altitude), four from Tilcara (Jujuy, 2465 m altitude) and six llamas from Cieneguillas (Jujuy, 3800 m altitude). The total concentrations of protozoa in the forestomach contents were 7.

The Role of Ciliate Protozoa in the Rumen.

First described in 1843, Rumen protozoa with their striking appearance were assumed to be important for the welfare of their host. However, despite contributing up to 50% of the bio-mass in the rumen, the role of protozoa in rumen microbial ecosystem remains unclear. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA libraries generated from the rumen of cattle, sheep, and goats has revealed an unexpected diversity of ciliated protozoa although variation in gene copy number between species makes it difficult to obtain absolute quantification.

Effect of progressive inoculation of fauna-free sheep with holotrich protozoa and total-fauna on rumen fermentation, microbial diversity and methane emissions.

Rumen methanogenesis represents an energy waste for the ruminant and an important source of greenhouse gas; thus, integrated studies are needed to fully understand this process. Eight fauna-free sheep were used to investigate the effect of successive inoculation with holotrich protozoa then with total fauna on rumen methanogenesis. Holotrichs inoculation neither altered rumen fermentation rate nor diet digestibility, but increased concentrations of acetate (+15%), butyrate (+57%), anaerobic fungi (+0.

Study of methanogen communities associated with different rumen protozoal populations.

Protozoa-associated methanogens (PAM) are considered one of the most active communities in the rumen methanogenesis. This experiment investigated whether methanogens are sequestrated within rumen protozoa, and structural differences between rumen free-living methanogens and PAM. Rumen protozoa were harvested from totally faunated sheep, and six protozoal fractions (plus free-living microorganisms) were generated by sequential filtration.

Pros and cons of ion-torrent next generation sequencing versus terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism T-RFLP for studying the rumen bacterial community.

The development of next generation sequencing has challenged the use of other molecular fingerprinting methods used to study microbial diversity. We analysed the bacterial diversity in the rumen of defaunated sheep following the introduction of different protozoal populations, using both next generation sequencing (NGS: Ion Torrent PGM) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Although absolute number differed, there was a high correlation between NGS and T-RFLP in terms of richness and diversity with R values of 0.

Characterisation of the faecal bacterial community in adult and elderly horses fed a high fibre, high oil or high starch diet using 454 pyrosequencing.

Faecal samples were collected from seventeen animals, each fed three different diets (high fibre, high fibre with a starch rich supplement and high fibre with an oil rich supplement). DNA was extracted and the V1-V2 regions of 16SrDNA were 454-pyrosequenced to investigate the faecal microbiome of the horse. The effect of age was also considered by comparing mature (8 horses aged 5-12) versus elderly horses (9 horses aged 19-28).

Identification of a core bacterial community within the large intestine of the horse.

The horse has a rich and complex microbial community within its gastrointestinal tract that plays a central role in both health and disease. The horse receives much of its dietary energy through microbial hydrolysis and fermentation of fiber predominantly in the large intestine/hindgut. The presence of a possible core bacterial community in the equine large intestine was investigated in this study.

Analysis of stomach bacterial communities in Australian feral horses.

We investigated the community structure of bacteria that populate the stomach of the Brumby, a breed of feral horses from the Australian outback. Using a 16S rRNA gene clone library, we identified 155 clones that were assigned to 26 OTUs based on a 99.0 % sequence identity cutoff.

Early progesterone cessation after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of stopping progesterone (P) support at week 5 versus week 8 on ongoing pregnancy rate after in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Setting: University-affiliated infertility center.

Predation of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium by the rumen protozoon Entodinium caudatum studied in vitro by fluorescence emission.

Predation of bacteria by protozoa has important implications on rumen metabolism and bacterial populations. Protozoa can also restrict the passage of pathogenic bacteria to the host's lower gastrointestinal tract. This work aimed to evaluate the predation by Entodinium caudatum (EC) and the intraprotozoal survival of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Rumen protozoal diversity in the Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) as compared with domestic goats (Capra hircus).

Rumen protozoal diversity in the Spanish ibex (SI) was studied in males (n=4), females (n=7) and young (n=4) from the Maestrazgo (Spain) and contrasted with domestic goats (n=3; DG) of the same region. There were no differences among SI types in protozoal concentration or in the number of protozoal species. Only protozoa from the genus Entodinium were observed in SI (seven species), the highest numbers corresponding to E.

Structural diversity and defensive properties of norditerpenoid alkaloids.

We have tested the insect antifeedant and toxic activity of 43 norditerpenoid alkaloids on Spodoptera littoralis and Leptinotarsa decemlineata including eserine (physostigmine), anabasine, and atropine. Antifeedant effects of the test compounds were structure- and species-dependent. The most active antifeedants to L.

Three new norditerpenoid alkaloids from Consolida orientalis.

The structures of three new norditerpenoid alkaloids named dehydrodeltatsine (1), 14-O-acetyltakaosamine (2), 18-demethoxypubescenine (3) isolated from the aerial parts of Consolida orientalis (GAY) SCHROD., were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-EIMS. Twelve known norditerpenoid alkaloids (type lycoctonine) and the diterpenoid alkaloid ajaconine have been isolated.

Alkaloids from Consolida oliveriana.

Four new diterpenoid alkaloids, olivimine (1), olividine (2), 8-O-methylcolumbianine (3), and 7alpha-hydroxycossonidine (4), were isolated from the aerial parts of Consolida oliveriana. Compounds 1 and 2, 3, and 4 belong to the lycoctonine-azomethine, aconitine, and hetisine types, respectively, and their structures were elucidated by spectral data interpretation.