Formalin is a widely used fixative but there is potential public health risks to exposure. Besides, alcoholic fixation is advantageous over formalin fixation because of faster fixation, optimal preservation and safer workplace environment. Following fixation by EMA and 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF), we analyzed the tissue morphology, antigenic stability, DNA and RNA quantity with quality (OD value). The findings of EMA fixing on both the tissue morphology and molecular characterization, were satisfactory. Specially, EMA was faster in penetration of tissues than NBF, fixed ideally as early as 8 h of fixation whereas improper fixation was evident for NBF. In Hematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) staining, better cellular details with stronger affinity for staining were observed. In immunohistochemistry, better antigenic stability was reported for EMA-fixed tissues. The nucleic acid analysis revealed that total genomic DNA and RNA yield from EMA fixed tissues were significantly higher (P < 0.05) with superior quality than NBF fixed tissues. Our results suggest that EMA could be a potential alternative to NBF for fixation and preservation of tissues. These data provide new insights into an option for a safer working environment to support study and research.
In an epoch of the growing risk of antibiotic resistance, there is a dire need to establish an effective novel feeding practice for broiler nutrition as an alternative to antibiotics. Hence, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of clove powder and tulsi extract on the growth performance, gut morphologic and morphometric indices, and cecal microbial status of broiler, as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). Sixty day-old chicks of Cobb-500 strain were randomly divided into 4 groups, each having 15 birds. Chicks of the control group (T0) were fed commercial broiler feed with no additional supplementation. The treatment groups were offered commercial broiler feed and received clove powder and tulsi extract with drinking water at the rate of 0.5% + 2% (T1), 1% + 3% (T2), and 1.5% + 4% (T3), respectively. Results showed a nonlinear relationship with the dosage of clove and tulsi. All the growth parameters substantially (P < 0.05) improved in T2 while T1 and T3 showed no significant improvement compared to T0. The final body weight was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T2. Giblet and offal weights showed no noticeable differences except in the intestine and heart where intestine weight markedly (P < 0.05) decreased in T3 and heart weight significantly (P < 0.05) increased in T1 and T2. Clove and tulsi supplementation substantially improved the villus height and villus surface area of the small intestine in T2 while the large intestine remained mostly unaffected by the treatment. Cecal microbial status significantly improved in all the treatment groups having increased (P < 0.05) Lactobacillus spp. count and decreased (P < 0.05) E. coli count compared to T0. Based on the aforementioned findings, it can be concluded that the combination of clove and tulsi can improve the growth performance and gut health of broilers which is largely dose-dependent and might be supplied as a potential alternative to AGPs.
1 September 2021 in Enzyme and Microbial Technology
Microalgae have attracted significant interest as a new and sustainable option for poultry feed because of their excellent nutritional value and environmental advantages. They are rich in carbohydrates (10% to 50% of dry weight [DW]), proteins (40% to 65% of DW), lipids (approximately 50% of DW), vitamins and minerals (2.2% to 4.8% of DW), making them excellent additives to conventional poultry diets. In addition to their nutritional value, they also possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. They have the potential to enhance growth performance (approximately 22%), decrease feed conversion ratio (approximately 10%), increase meat and egg production, and boost immune function in poultry. Moreover, adding microalgae to poultry diets has been associated with a reduction in pathogenic microorganisms and an augmentation of the nutritional quality of poultry products such as eggs and meat that are enriched in fatty acids and carotenoids. However, challenges such as the high initial cost of production, scalability of algae farming, regulatory drawbacks, must be addressed to utilize their full potential. Therefore, this review focuses on the nutritional properties of various microalgal species used in poultry feed and their role in poultry health and production. It also explores microalgae industry's present state, challenges, and prospects.
31 October 2021 in Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology
Syzygium aromaticum commonly known as Clove is considered to be the most precious spice among others, which has been continued to be utilized for centuries for different biological and therapeutic purposes. It is a tropical tree which belongs to the Myrtaceae family and natively originated from Indonesia. However, in current times it is found in a few other places of the world including Brazil. Clove is viewed as perhaps the most extravagant source of phenolic mixes, for example, eugenol, eugenol acetic acid derivatives and so on. These mixtures have incredible potential for restorative, organic and other rural applications. In this review we have tried to figure out some of the important medicinal or therapeutic as well as phytobiotic and agricultural utilizations of the products prepared from Clove. We have tried to give an extra emphasis on the application of clove as a product of herbal contraception however for this purpose dose of the extract (either aqueous or ethanolic) of clove plays the vital role in this case. Although for establishing or making clove products commercially available as a safe product for herbal contraception or other medicinal impacts, more studies are required, and it could open a new era in the field of herbal medicine that would be much safer and feasible.
RNA editing is a significant mechanism underlying genetic variation and protein molecule alteration; C-to-U RNA editing, specifically, is important in the regulation of mammalian genetic diversity. The ability to define and limit accesses of enzymatic machinery to avoid the modification of unintended targets is key to the success of RNA editing. Identification of the core component of the apoB RNA editing holoenzyme, APOBEC, and investigation into new candidate genes encoding other elements of the complex could reveal further details regarding APOBEC-mediated mRNA editing. Menkes disease is a recessive X-chromosome-linked hereditary syndrome in humans, caused by defective copper metabolism due to mutations in the ATP7A gene, which encodes a copper transport protein. Here, we generated plasmids encoding the MS2 system and the APOBEC1 deaminase domain and used a guide RNA with flanking MS2 sites to restore mutated Atp7a in fibroblasts from a macular mouse model of Menkes disease withs T>C mutation. Around 35% of the mutated C nucleotide (nt) was restored to U, demonstrating that our RNA editing system is reliable and has potential for therapeutic clinical application. RNA base editing via human RNA-guided cytidine deaminases is a potentially attractive approach for in vivo therapeutic application and provides opportunities for new developments in this field.