Isolation and characterization of human intestinal Enterococcus avium EFEL009 converting rutin to quercetin

Quercetin is a flavonol believed to have beneficial effects on human health. Rutin, found in many plants, fruits and vegetables, is metabolized by human intestinal bacteria and converted to quercetin, where it is absorbed through the intestinal epithelium. This study aimed to isolate and characterize human intestinal bacteria capable of converting rutin to quercetin. A bacterium that can metabolize rutin was isolated from human faecal samples and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The whole-cell enzymatic activities on flavonoid glycoside and the conversion profiles of the isolate were also analysed. The bacterium was identified as Enterococcus avium EFEL009 and was shown to convert rutin to isoquercetin and then to quercetin under anaerobic conditions. Microscopic analysis revealed short chains of cocci with diameters of approx. 1 μm. β-Glucosidase was shown to be constitutively expressed in Ent. avium, while α-rhamnosidase was expressed following induction by rutin. Both enzymes were mainly localized to the cell surface. This study is the first report on the isolation of a quercetin-producing Ent. avium FEEL009, which could be a potential industrial starter bacterium.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Quercetin is a member of the flavonoids family reported to have better cytoprotective abilities, stronger inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production, and better chemoprevention than rutin. This is the first report on the isolation and characterization of Enterococcus avium EFEL009 from the human intestine which is capable of converting rutin to quercetin.

A short period of inhalation induction with sevoflurane prevents rocuronium-induced withdrawal in children

BACKGROUND

the aim of this study was to determine whether or not inhalation induction with sevoflurane can prevent the withdrawal movement associated with the injection of rocuronium.

METHODS

a total of 75 pediatric patients were randomly allocated to five groups (S 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and the control group). In the control group (n=15), 2.5% thiopental 5 mg/kg was injected intravenously. Rocuronium 0.4 mg/kg was injected immediately after loss of consciousness. In the S 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0 group, rocuronium 0.4 mg/kg was injected at 1.5, 2, 2.5, or 3 min after inhalation induction, respectively, and the withdrawal response was recorded. End-tidal sevoflurane concentrations were recorded at the time of the rocuronium injection. The inhalation time of sevoflurane before rocuronium injection required to provide no withdrawal response in 50% and 95% of patients (IT(50) and IT(95) ) was calculated.

RESULTS

the incidence of withdrawal was 80% (12/15), 71.4% (10/14), 21% (3/14), 0% (0/14), and 0% (0/15) in group C, group S 1.5, group S 2.0, group S 2.5, and group S 3.0, respectively. IT(50) of the rocuronium injection time was 1.7 min (95% CI: 1.5-1.9) and IT(95) was 2.3 min (95% CI: 2.0- 2.9).

CONCLUSIONS

this study demonstrated that inhalation induction with sevoflurane can prevent the withdrawal movement induced by rocuronium in children, and IT(50) and IT(95) for the prevention of movement was 1.7 and 2.3 min, respectively.

Quantitative Analysis of Interleukin-6 Expression in Porcine Spleen Cells and Alveolar Macrophages using Real-Time PCR

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a multifocal cytokine produced by lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells, regulates immune responses, acute-phase reactions against bacterial infections, and haematopoiesis. After cloning and sequencing of porcine IL-6, the expression pattern of porcine IL-6 mRNA was evaluated through real-time RT-PCR using porcine immune cells (spleen cells and alveolar macrophages) following stimulation with LPS. The sequence has been reported to GenBank with Accession no. AF 518322. The nucleotide sequence was different at the 89th and 205th positions in comparison with M80258, but only at the 205th with M86722. Comparison of porcine IL-6, Accession no. AF 518322, with IL-6 of human, canine, ovine, and mouse showed homologies of 78%, 81%, 82% and 73% in nucleotide sequence and 42%, 69%, 61% and 42% in amino acids. Expression of IL-6 mRNA was induced by stimulation with LPS. IL-6 mRNA expression in alveolar macrophages peaked at 2 h and decreased sharply to control levels at 4 h, whereas it peaked at 14 h and decreased at 24 h in spleen cells after stimulation with LPS (1 microg/ml). These results suggest that IL-6 mRNA expression in porcine immune cells is cell-type specific and the results of this study could be used as the basis for research on the porcine immune system.

Endocarditis associated with Escherichia coli in a sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

Endocarditis associated with Escherichia coli was diagnosed in a 2-year-old male California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). The diagnosis was based on light microscopic examination and bacterial isolation from the valvular lesion. This is the first case of bacterial endocarditis reported in a sea lion.