Effects of Cold Plasma Pretreatment on the Synthesis of Polysaccharide from Pleurotus ostreatus

Fungal polysaccharides have attracted wide attention because of their medical pharmaceutical and health care value. So far, many efforts have been made in strain improvement to produce polysaccharides on a large scale at low cost. Here, a novel cold plasma-induced strain improvement technology was employed to pretreat Pleurotus ostreatus CGMCC 5.374 by radio-frequency (RF) low-vacuum cold plasma (LVCP) for the purpose of obtaining a high-yield polysaccharide strain. The optimum pretreatment conditions including discharge power, treatment time, and working pressure were determined by single factor and orthogonal experiment in succession. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis was conducted to study the effects of RF-LVCP on cell metabolism and proliferation. Results showed that under the optimal condition of discharge power of 130 W, treatment time of 25 s and working pressure of 140 Pa, polysaccharide content in mycelium was increased by 3.16% after 6 days in comparison to the original strain. Transcriptome analysis showed that RF-LVCP is helpful for specific gene transcription profiles, Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathways, of which the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly involve with the up-regulation of polysaccharide transport, physiology, synthesis and metabolism, as well as the down-regulation of polysaccharide hydrolysis and macromolecular degradation.

Enhanced delignification and production of bioactive compounds in wheat straw by optimizing sterilization methods for Irpex lacteus fermentation

This study aimed to examine the effects of sterilization methods on the degradation ability and bioactive compound production of Irpex lacteus in wheat straw. Following 28 days of fermentation, the lignin content of samples autoclaved and pasteurized at pH 4.5 was reduced by 16.0 % - 21.7 % compared to pasteurized samples without pH adjustment, accompanied by a significant increase in sugar yield ranging from 83.30 % - 96.35 %. Autoclaved samples exhibited the lowest total phenol content and antioxidant activity (P < 0.05). Bacillus occupied an absolute advantage (89.1 %) in samples pasteurized at pH 4.5, whereas 10 bacterial genera exhibited abundances above 1 % in pasteurized samples without pH adjustment. Furthermore, 45.1 % - 47.2 % of the metabolites comprised lipids and lipid-like molecules, and some of them were improved by pasteurization at pH 4.5. Overall, pasteurization at acidic conditions is an effective sterilization method for the fungal conversion of wheat straw.

Enhanced lignin degradation by Irpex lacteus through expanded sterilization further improved the fermentation quality and microbial community during the silage preservation process

Traditional autoclaving, slow degradation rate and preservation of biomass treated by fungi are the main factors restricting biological treatment. In our previous studies, strains with high efficiency and selective lignin degradation ability were obtained. To further solve the limiting factors of biological treatment, this paper proposed a composite treatment technology, which could replace autoclaves for fungal treatment and improve the preservation and utilization of fungal-pretreated straw. The autoclaved and expanded buckwheat straw were, respectively, degraded by Irpex lacteus for 14 days (CIL, EIL), followed by ensiling of raw materials (CK) and biodegraded straw of CIL and EIL samples with Lactobacillus plantarum for different days, respectively (CP, CIP, EIP). An expansion led to lactic acid bacteria, mold, and yeast of the samples below the detection line, and aerobic bacteria was significantly reduced, indicating a positive sterilization effect. Expansion before I. lacteus significantly enhanced lignin selective degradation by about 6%, and the absolute content of natural detergent solute was about 5% higher than that of the CIL. Moreover, EIL decreased pH by producing higher organic acids. The combination treatment created favorable conditions for ensiling. During ensiling, EIP silage produced high lactic acid about 26.83 g/kg DM and the highest acetic acid about 22.35 g/kg DM, and the pH value could be stable at 4.50. Expansion before I. lacteus optimized the microbial community for ensiling, resulting in EIP silage co-dominated by Lactobacillus, Pediococcus and Weissella, whereas only Lactobacillus was always dominant in CP and CIP silage. Clavispora gradually replaced Irpex in EIP silage, which potentially promoted lactic acid bacteria growth and acetic acid production. In vitro gas production (IVGP) in EIL was increased by 30% relative to CK and was higher than 24% in CIL. The role of expansion was more significant after ensiling, the IVGP in EIP was increased by 22% relative to CP, while that in CIP silage was only increased by 9%. Silage of fungal-treated samples reduced methane emissions by 28% to 31%. The study demonstrated that expansion provides advantages for fungal colonization and delignification, and further improves the microbial community and fermentation quality for silage, enhancing the nutrition and utilization value. This has practical application value for scaling up biological treatment and preserving the fungal-treated lignocellulose.

Immobilization of purified enzyme EreB in metalorganic framework (MOF) mesopores for erythromycin degradation

Erythromycin, a commonly used macrolide antibiotic, plays a crucial role in both human medicine and animal husbandry. However, its abuse has led to residual presence in the environment, with problems such as the emergence of resistant bacteria and enrichment of resistance genes. These issues pose significant risks to human health. Thus far, there are no effective, environmentally friendly methods to manage this problem. Enzymes can specifically degrade erythromycin without causing other problems, but their unrecyclability and environmental vulnerability hinder large-scale application. Enzyme immobilization may help to solve these problems. This study used Cu-BTC, a synthetic metal-organic framework, to immobilize the erythromycin-degrading enzyme EreB. The loading temperature and enzyme quantity were optimized. The Cu-BTC and EreB@Cu-BTC were characterized by various methods to confirm the preparation of Cu-BTC and immobilization of EreB. The maximum enzyme loading capacity was 66.5 mg g-1. In terms of enzymatic properties, immobilized EreB had improved heat (25-45 °C) and alkaline (6.5-10) tolerance, along with greater affinity between the enzyme and its substrate; Km decreased from 438.49 to 372.30 mM. Recycling was also achieved; after 10 cycles, 57.12% of the enzyme activity was maintained. After composite degradation, the antibacterial activity of erythromycin-containing wastewater was examined; the results showed that the novel composite could completely inactivate erythromycin. In summary, Cu-BTC was an ideal carrier for immobilization of the enzyme EreB, and the EreB@Cu-BTC composite has good prospects for the treatment of erythromycin-containing wastewater.

Environmental factors induced macrolide resistance genes in composts consisting of erythromycin fermentation residue, cattle manure, and maize straw

With the growing concerns about antibiotic resistance, it is more and more important to prevent the environmental pollution caused by antibiotic fermentation residues. In this study, composted erythromycin fermentation residue (EFR) with the mixture of cattle manure and maize straw at ratios of 0:10 (CK), 1:10 (T1), and 3:10 (T2) explores the effects on physicochemical characteristics, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Results reflected that the addition of EFR reduced the carbon/nitrogen ratio of each compost and improved the piles' temperature, which promoted the composting process. However, the contents of Na⁺, SO₄^2-, and erythromycin were also significantly increased. After 30 days of composting, the degradation rates of erythromycin in CK, T1, and T2 were 72.7%, 20.3%, and 37.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, the total positive rates for 26 detected ARGs in T1 and T2 were 65.4%, whereas that of CK was only 23.1%. Further analysis revealed that ARGs responsible for ribosomal protection, such as ermF, ermT, and erm(35), dominated the composts of T1 and T2, and most were correlated with IS613, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen, and Zn²⁺. Above all, adding EFR helps to improve the nutritional value of composts, but the risks in soil salinization and ARG enrichment caused by high EC and erythromycin content should be further investigated and eliminated.

Biodegradation efficiency and mechanism of erythromycin degradation by Paracoccus versutus W7

Continuous and excessive usage of erythromycin results in serious environmental pollution and presents a health risk to humans. Biological treatment is considered as an efficient and economical method to remove it from the environment. In this study, a novel erythromycin-degrading bacterial strain, W7, isolated from sewage sludge was identified as Paracoccus versutus. Strain W7 degraded 58.5% of 50 mg/L erythromycin in 72 h under the optimal conditions of 35 °C, pH 7.0, and 0.1% sodium citrate with yeast powder in mineral salt medium. It completely eliminated erythromycin from erythromycin fermentation residue at concentrations of 100 and 300 mg/L within 36 and 60 h, respectively. Erythromycin esterase (EreA) was found to be involved in erythromycin metabolism in this strain and was expressed successfully. EreA could hydrolyze erythromycin, and its maximum activity occurred at pH 8.5 and 35 °C. Finally, six intermediates of erythromycin degraded by strain W7 were detected by high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Based on the novel intermediates and enzymes, we determined two possible pathways of erythromycin degradation by strain W7. This study broadened our understanding of the erythromycin catabolic processes of P. versutus and developed a feasible microbial strategy for removing erythromycin from erythromycin fermentation residue, wastewater, and other erythromycin-contaminated environments.

Ensiling Improved the Colonization and Degradation Ability of Irpex lacteus in Wheat Straw

To develop a non-thermal method to replace steam autoclaving for white-rot fungi fermentation, Irpex lacteus spawn was inoculated in wheat straw (WSI) or ensiled WS (WSI) at varying ratios of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%, and incubated at 28 °C for 28 days to determine the effects of the ensiling and inoculation ratio on the colonization and degradation ability of Irpex lacteus in wheat straw (WS). The results demonstrate that ensiling effectively inhibited the growth of aerobic bacteria and molds, as well as other harmful microorganisms in WS, which created a favorable condition for the growth of I. lacteus. After the treatment of I. lacteus, the pH of EWSI decreased to below 5, while that of WSI, except for the feedstocks of WSI-50%, was around 7, indicating that I. lacteus colonized well in the ensiled WS because the substrates dominated by I. lacteus are generally acidic. Correspondingly, except for the molds in WSI-50% samples, the counts of other microorganisms in WSI, such as aerobic bacteria and molds, were significantly higher than those in EWSI (p < 0.05), indicating that contaminant microorganisms had a competitive advantage in non-ensiled substrates. Incubation with I. lacteus did not significantly affect the cellulose content of all samples. However, the NDS content of EWSI was significantly higher than that of WSI (p < 0.05), and the hemicellulose and lignin contents were significantly lower than the latter (p < 0.05), except for the NDS and hemicellulose contents of WSI-50% samples. Correlation analysis revealed a stronger negative correlation between NDS content and the contents of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin in EWSI, which could be caused by the destruction of lignin and hemicellulose and the conversion from structural carbohydrates to fungal polysaccharides or other compounds in NDS form. Even for WSI-50% samples, the sugar yield of WS treated with I. lacteus improved with an increasing inoculation ratio, but the ratio was not higher than that of the raw material. However, the sugar yield of EWSI increased by 51-80%, primarily owing to the degradation of lignin and hemicellulose. Above all, ensiling improves the colonization ability of I. lacteus in WS, which promotes the degradation of lignin and hemicellulose and the enzymic hydrolysis of cellulose, so combining ensiling and I. lacteus fermentation has promising potential in the pretreatment of WS.

Evolution of antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial community during erythromycin fermentation residue composting

The removal efficiency of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is the biggest challenge for the treatment of erythromycin fermentation residue (EFR). In the current research, 0% (control), 10% (T1), and 30% (T2) spray-dried EFR were composted with bulking materials, consisting of cattle manure and maize straw, for 30 days. Environmental factors and bacterial community on the behaviors of ARGs were further investigated. Apart from the high levels of erythromycin, the electrical conductivities were also increased by 66.7% and 291.7% in the samples of T1 and T2, respectively. After 30 days of composting, total ARGs in the samples of control were decreased by 78.1%-91.2%, but those of T1 and T2 were increased 14.5-16.7- and 38.5-68.7-fold. ARGs related to ribosomal protection (erm) dominated the samples of T1 and T2 at D 13 and 30, especially that ermF accounted for more than 80% of the total ARGs. Furthermore, the results of bacterial community revealed that EFR promoted the growth of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, but inhibited that of Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Chloroflexi. Network analysis revealed that the enriched ARGs had strong correlation with seven bacterial genera, including Halomonas, Oceanobacillus, and Alcaligenes, most of which are halotolerant. Above all, erythromycin combined with high salinity can have synergistic effect on the enrichment of ARGs and their hosts.

Immobilization of EreB on Acid-Modified Palygorskite for Highly Efficient Degradation of Erythromycin

Erythromycin is one of the most commonly used macrolide antibiotics. However, its pollution of the ecosystem is a significant risk to human health worldwide. Currently, there are no effective and environmentally friendly methods to resolve this issue. Although erythromycin esterase B (EreB) specifically degrades erythromycin, its non-recyclability and fragility limit the large-scale application of this enzyme. In this work, palygorskite was selected as a carrier for enzyme immobilization. The enzyme was attached to palygorskite via a crosslinking reaction to construct an effective erythromycin-degradation material (i.e., EreB@modified palygorskite), which was characterized using FT-IR, SEM, XRD, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller techniques. The results suggested the successful modification of the material and the loading of the enzyme. The immobilized enzyme had a higher stability over varying temperatures (25-65 °C) and pH values (6.5-10.0) than the free enzyme, and the maximum rate of reaction (V_max) and the turnover number (k_cat) of the enzyme increased to 0.01 mM min^-1 and 169 min^-1, respectively, according to the enzyme-kinetics measurements. The EreB@modified palygorskite maintained about 45% of its activity after 10 cycles, and degraded erythromycin in polluted water to 20 mg L^-1 within 300 min. These results indicate that EreB could serve as an effective immobilizing carrier for erythromycin degradation at the industrial scale.

Effects of pH and Metal Ions on the Hydrothermal Treatment of Penicillin: Kinetic, Pathway, and Antibacterial Activity

Antibiotic residues lead to the risk of resistance gene enrichment, which is the main reason why penicillin mycelial dreg (PMD) is defined as hazardous waste. Hydrothermal treatment (HT) is an effective method to treat penicillin mycelial dreg, but the degradation mechanism of penicillin is unclear. In the study, we researched the effects of pH (4-10) at 80-100 °C and metal ions (Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺) at several concentrations on the HT of penicillin, identified the degradation products (DPs) under different conditions, and evaluated the antibacterial activity of hydrothermally treated samples. The results show that penicillin degradation kinetics highly consistent with pseudo-first-order model (R² = 0.9447-0.9999). The degradation rates (k) at pH = 4, 7, and 10 were 0.1603, 0.0039, and 0.0485 min^-1, indicating acidic conditions were more conducive to penicillin degradation. Among the four tested metal ions, Zn²⁺ had the most significant catalytic effect. Adding 5 mg·L^-1 Zn²⁺ caused 100% degradation rate at pH = 7 after HT for 60 min. Six degradation products (DPs) with low mass-to-charge (m/z ≤ 335) were detected under acidic condition. However, only two and three DPs were observed in the samples catalyzed by Zn²⁺ and alkali, respectively, and penilloic acid (m/z = 309) was the main DPs under these conditions. Furthermore, no antibacterial activity to Bacillus pumilus was detected in the medium with up to 50% addition of the treated samples under acidic condition. Even though acid, alkali, and some metal ions can improve the degradation ability of penicillin, it was found that the most effective way for removing its anti-bacterial activity was under the acidic condition. Therefore, resistance residue indicates the amount of additive in the process of resource utilization, and avoids the enrichment of resistance genes.

Plant functional traits shape growth rate for xerophytic shrubs

Trade-offs exist for xerophytic shrubs between functional traits, involving in water loss and assimilate accumulation, can contribute to its survival and growth rate regulation in arid environments. However, growth analysis based on plant functional traits has been focused on the study of herbs and woody species. It is still unclear how the functional traits of xerophytic shrubs regulate their growth rate. In this study, we selectedeight xerophytic shrubs as samples to analyze the regulation process of the functional traits of shrubs on growth rate. Plants were cultivated for three years, and three harvests (every one year) were carried out. Factors explaining between-species differences in relative growth rate (RGR) varied, depending on whether different ages were considered. The results showed that RGR was positively correlated with net assimilation rate, but there was a significant negative correlation with leaf area ration (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf biomass ratio in the age 1. However, in the age 2, RGR showed a significant positive correlation with the morphological traits (i.e., leaf area ration and specific leaf area), but not with physiological traits (i.e., net assimilation rate) and leaf biomass allocation. Our results suggested that the fluctuation of environmental factors affects the regulation path of the plant functional traits on RGR of xerophytic shrubs. However, the analysis of causality model showed that no matter in which age, net assimilation rate and leaf area ration principally drive the variation in RGR among xerophytic shrubs.

Safety of composts consisting of hydrothermally treated penicillin fermentation residue: Degradation products, antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial diversity

Combining hydrothermal treatment and composting is an effective method to dispose of penicillin fermentation residue (PFR), but the safety and related mechanism are still unclear. In this study, penicillin solution was hydrothermally treated to decipher its degradation mechanism, and then hydrothermally treated PFR (HT-PFR) was mixed with bulking agents at ratios of 2:0 (CK), 2:1.5 (T1), and 2:5 (T2) to determine the absolute abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the succession of bacterial community. Results showed that penicillin was degraded to several new compounds without the initial lactam structure after hydrothermal treatment. During composting, temperature and pH of the composts increased with the raising of HT-PFR proportion, except the pH at days 2. After 52 days of composting, the absolute copies of ARGs (blaTEM, blaCMY2, and blaSFO) and the relative abundance of bacteria related to pathogens were reduced significantly (P < 0.05). Especially, the total amount of ARGs in the samples of CK and T1 were decreased to equal level (around 5 log₁₀ copies/g), which indicated that more ARGs were degraded in the latter by the composting process. In the CK samples, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria accounted for ~69.8% of the total bacteria, but they were gradually replaced by Firmicutes with increasing proportions of HT-PFR, which can be caused by the high protein content in PFR. Consisting with bacterial community, more gram-positive bacteria were observed in T1 and T2, and most of them are related to manganese oxidation and chitinolysis. As composting proceeded, bacteria having symbiotic or pathogenic relationships with animals and plants were reduced, but those related to ureolysis and cellulolysis were enriched. Above all, hydrothermal treatment is effective in destroying the lactam structure of penicillin, which makes that most ARGs and pathogenic bacteria are eliminated in the subsequent composting.

[Advances in biodegradation of macrolide antibiotics]

Macrolide antibiotics are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics with the macrolide as core nucleus. Recently, antibiotic pollution has become an important environmental problem due to the irregular production and abuse of macrolide antibiotics. Microbial degradation is one of the most effective methods to deal with antibiotic pollution. This review summarizes the current status of environmental pollution caused by macrolide antibiotics, the degradation strains, the degradation enzymes, the degradation pathways and the microbial processes for degrading macrolide antibiotics. Moreover, the critical challenges on the biodegradation of macrolide antibiotics were also discussed.

Knockdown of long non-coding RNA VIM-AS1 inhibits glioma cell proliferation and migration, and increases the cell apoptosis via modulation of WEE1 targeted by miR-105-5p

OBJECTIVE

Glioma including glioblastoma is the main type of primary brain tumors worldwide. LncRNAs have participated in glioma formation. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism for VIM-AS1/miR-105-5p/WEE1 signaling in glioma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinical tumors and adjacent tissues were collected from 24 patients with glioma in the Shang Luo Central Hospital. Then, the clinical samples were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E). VIM-AS1, miR-105-5p, and WEE1 levels were measured using real-time PCR. The protein levels of WEE1, Cyclin A1, PCNA, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Bcl-2, E-cadherin, and Bax were analyzed using Western blot. The overall survival of glioma patients was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. The interaction between VIM-AS1 and miR-105-5p was determined using RIP assay and Dual-Luciferase reporter assay, and the binding between miR-105-5p and WEE1 was also detected by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay. Cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and migration were confirmed using CCK-8, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay, respectively.

RESULTS

VIM-AS1 was elevated in cancer tissues, and high level of VIM-AS1 was positively correlated with poor overall survival. Then, VIM-AS1 could bind to and downregulate miR-105-5p. Furthermore, the knockdown of VIM-AS1 significantly suppressed tumor growth in vivo. The knockdown of VIM-AS1/overexpression of miR-105-5p inhibited glioma cell growth, colony formation, and migration, and enhanced the cell apoptosis by inhibiting expression of Cyclin A1, PCNA, Vimentin, N-cadherin, and Bcl-2, and by increasing the expression of Bax and E-cadherin. Interestingly, the overexpression of VIM-AS1 reversed the tumor-suppressing role of miR-105-5p in glioma cells. Besides, the expression of WEE1 was synergistically regulated by VIM-AS1 and miR-105-5p. Consequently, VIM-AS1 promoted glioma progression via upregulating WEE1 or downregulating miR-105-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

VIM-AS1/miR-105-5p/WEE1 signaling may be a promising target for glioma treatment.

Effects of added thermally treated penicillin fermentation residues on the quality and safety of composts

Thermal treatment and composting are effective methods of degrading antibiotics and organic matter in penicillin fermentation residues (PFR), respectively. However, the composting efficiency and environmental safety of thermally treated PFR (HT-PFR) remain unclear. In this study, HT-PFR was composted with cattle manure and maize straw at ratios of 0:1:1 (CK), 1.5:1:1 (T₁), and 5:1:1 (T₂). Changes in physicochemical properties, seed germination index (GI), and microbial antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were determined. Addition of HT-PFR significantly reduced the C:N ratio of each compost (P < 0.05) and prolonged the thermophilic stage. The GI of CK and T₁ composts increased during processing, whereas that of T₂ compost remained low. The PO₄^3- concentrations of T₁ and T₂ composts were 6.3- and 11.1-fold higher than that of CK, respectively. HT-PFR contained relatively small amounts of mineral elements, and composting it with cattle manure and maize straw provided balanced nutrients for plant growth. After 52 days of composting, most ARGs of the microflora were reduced to low levels, but bla_TEM increased significantly in T₂ compost. Overall, composting HT-PFR at up to 42% of a mix containing equal parts of cattle manure and wheat straw is an environmentally safe and effective way of transforming it into organic fertilizer.

[The reference intervals of thyroid functional indicators in pregnant population in Xi'an]

To establish reference intervals for thyroid functional indicators in early (T1), mid-term (T2), and late stage (T3) pregnancy in a population of women in Northwestern China. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 620 pregnant women. Subjects were recruited through a questionnaire where apparently healthy women were selected. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH3), total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroid hormone (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroid hormone (FT4) were detected using the Beckman Unicel DXI 800 automatic chemiluminescence analyzer (the third-generation TSH detection reagent for TSH3),and the reference intervals of different gestation periods were established. The results showed that the reference intervals of TSH3 in T1, T2, and T3 were 0.05-4.59, 0.61-6.01, and 0.63-4.78 mIU/L, respectively; TT3 were 1.62-2.97 nmol/L, 1.59-2.95 nmol/L, and 1.45-2.70 nmol/L, respectively; TT4 were 95.49-185.00 nmol/L, 92.70-181.54 nmol/L, and 77.93-155.09 nmol/L, respectively; FT3 were 3.18-5.22 pmol/L, 2.78-4.67 pmol/L, and 2.51-4.18 pmol/L, respectively; and FT4 were 7.72-12.97 pmol/L, 6.90-1.09 pmol/L, and 5.63-9.85 pmol/L, respectively. All thyroid function indexes had statistically significant differences between the three stages of pregnancy (TSH:H=30.879,P<0.01;FT3:H =153.827,P<0.01;FT4:H =229.967,P<0.01;TT3:H =36.484,P<0.01;TT4:H =58.531,P<0.01). 20 independent samples were collected to verify the reference intervals of TSH, FT3, FT4, TT3 and TT4 for three trimesters of pregnancy, and all of them passed.

[Radial artery thrombosis in optical coherence tomography guided transradial coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndrome patients and its risk factors analysis]

Objective: To observe the radial artery thrombosis (RAT) during transradial coronary angiography (CAG) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to investigate the risk factors of RAT during the CAG and/or PCI. Methods: In this retrospective study, we consecutively reviewed the radial artery OCT examination results of the patients who underwent OCT guided transradial CAG and/or PCI for acute coronary syndrome in heart center of Beijing Luhe hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2017 to July 2018. The incidence of RAT was observed. The patients were divided into the RAT group and non-RAT group, clinical data were collected and compared. Moreover, the types and distributions of thrombus in radial artery as well as the acute radial artery injuries under OCT were observed. Univariate analysis followed by multivariate analysis were performed to identify potential risk factors. The radial artery patency and ischemic symptoms of the involved limb were followed up at the 24-hour and the 1-month after procedure. Results: A total of 107 patients were included, the age was (58.1±12.5), and 78.5% were male (n=84). The incidence of RAT was 26.2% (n=28, 95%CI 17.9%-34.5%), and the main type of thrombus was white thrombus (n=15, 53.6%). The commonest position of RAT was the proximal portion of radial artery (n=17, 60.7%). The median thrombus volume was 0.05(0.03, 0.38) mm3, and the median thrombus score was 6.5 (3.3, 13.8). In univariate analysis, the frequency of acute radial artery injury and use of bivalirudin were significantly higher and the procedure time was significantly longer in RAT group than those in non-RAT group (all P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the radial artery acute injury (OR=5.82, 95%CI: 2.09-16.20, P=0.001) and the procedure time (OR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.01-1.06, P=0.006) were independent risk factors of RAT. Rate of radial artery occlusion at 24 hours follow-up was similar between RAT and non-RAT group (7.14%(2/28), vs. 10.13%(8/79), P=1.000). None of the patients complicated severe ischemic symptom of the operative limb. Conclusions: RAT is a high frequency access complication during transradial coronary intervention. This phenomenon can be accurately observed by OCT. Acute radial artery injury and prolonged procedure time are risk factors of RAT during transradial coronary intervention.

Isolation and identification of a novel erythromycin-degrading fungus, Curvularia sp. RJJ-5, and its degradation pathway

Erythromycin pollution is an important risk to the ecosystem and human health worldwide. Thus, it is urgent to develop effective approaches to decontaminate erythromycin. In this study, we successfully isolated a novel erythromycin-degrading fungus from an erythromycin-contaminated site. The erythromycin biodegradation characteristics were investigated in mineral salt medium with erythromycin as the sole carbon and energy source. The metabolites of erythromycin degraded by fungus were identified and used to derive the degradation pathway. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, the isolated strain was named Curvularia sp. RJJ-5 (MN759651). Optimal degradation conditions for strain RJJ-5 were 30°C, and pH 6.0 with 100 mg L-1 erythromycin substrate. The strain could degrade 75.69% erythromycin under this condition. The following metabolites were detected: 3-depyranosyloxy erythromycin A, 7,12-dyhydroxy-6-deoxyerythronolide B, 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexamethyl-3,5,6,11,12,13-hexahydroxy-9-ketopentadecanoic acid and cladinose. It was deduced that the erythromycin A was degraded to 3-depyranosyloxy erythromycin A by glycoside hydrolase in the initial reaction. These results imply that Curvularia sp. RJJ-5 is a novel erythromycin-degrading fungus that can hydrolyze erythromycin using a glycoside hydrolase and has great potential for removing erythromycin from mycelial dreg and the contaminated environment.

Biodegradation of erythromycin by Delftia lacustris RJJ-61 and characterization of its erythromycin esterase

The residual erythromycin in fermentation waste can pollute the environment and threaten human health. However, there are no effective approaches to remedy this issue. In this study, an erythromycin-degrading bacterium named RJJ-61 was isolated and identified as a strain of Delftia lacustris based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The degradation ability of this strain was also evaluated; it could degrade 45.18% of erythromycin at 35°C in 120 h. Furthermore, the key degradation gene ereA was cloned from strain RJJ-61 and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21; the molecular weight of the expressed protein was ~45 kDa. The enzyme activity of EreA was 108.0 mU ml^-1 at 35°C and pH 7.0. Finally, the EreA protein was used to degrade erythromycin from mycelial dregs and 50% diluted solution, and the removal rates in them were 41.42% and 69.78%, respectively. In summary, D. lacustris RJJ-61 is a novel erythromycin-degrading strain that has great potential to remove erythromycin pollutants from the environment.

Vitamin A and E in the total mixed ration as influenced by ensiling and the type of herbage

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ensiling on vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (α-tocopherol) contents in the total mixed ration (TMR) containing different types of herbage. Oat hay (O-TMR), alfalfa hay (A-TMR) and oat hay + alfalfa hay (OA-TMR) were separately mixed with soybean milk residue, corn meal, soybean meal, salt and a vitamin-mineral supplement to make the TMR. The TMR was sampled after 0, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days of ensiling. The fermentation quality, chemical composition and contents of vitamins A and E were determined. The vitamin A content was affected by the ensiling and herbage type (p < 0.05). After 56 days of ensiling, the three TMR silages had good fermentation quality, but the vitamin A content of O-TMR, OA-TMR and A-TMR decreased by 59.4%, 58.1% and 53.7%, respectively. Moreover, the content of vitamin A was positively correlated with the pH and negatively correlated with the lactic acid content during the 56 days of ensiling of the TMR silages. However, there were no effects of ensiling and herbage type on the vitamin E content. Thus, the preservation strategy for vitamin A in the TMR during ensiling requires further study.

Yeast population dynamics on air exposure in total mixed ration silage with sweet potato residue

To investigate the yeast population dynamics during air exposure in total mixed ration (TMR) silage containing sweet potato residue. TMR were ensiled in laboratory silos (1 kg) with or without two lactic acid bacteria strains, Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), and Lactobacillus amylovorus (LA). Fermentation characteristics were measured and yeast population was investigated by ITS1 region gene sequencing using Illumina MiSeq platform. All treatments were well ensiled, and L. amylovorus improved aerobic stability. During aerobic exposure, Pichia kudriavzevii was detected with increased relative abundance in all treatments and more relative abundant in LP. Pichia fermentans was more relative abundant in control. Higher relative abundance of Pichia anomala was detected in deteriorating LP. The relative abundance of Pichia ohmeri increased during later aerobic exposure in the control and LA, with a significant increase in the count of yeast population. Despite Cryptococcus was detected more relative abundant during early stage of aerobic exposure, the yeast population was below the detection limit. Aerobic deterioration was characterized by an increase in operational taxonomic units of Pichia. High relative abundance of P. anomala and P. kudriavzevii made aerobic deterioration easier. Inhibition of P. fermentans might be an effective strategy for improving the aerobic stability to some instance.

Effects of Ensiling Oxytropis glabra with Whole-Plant Corn at Different Proportions on Fermentation Quality, Alkaloid Swainsonine Content, and Lactic Acid Bacteria Populations

Simple Summary

In Inner Mongolia, developing innovative forages is an indispensable way to ease the shortage of animal feed. Oxytropis glabra (OG) has become a dominant population, with a high nature yield in the degraded grassland of Inner Mongolia. As a typical legume, it is rich in amino acids and trace elements, so using OG to feed livestock is a valuable strategy. However, it contains swainsonine (SW), which hinders the utilization of OG. This study was conducted to evaluate silage fermentation and SW removal from OG ensiled with whole-plant corn at different proportions, and the result showed ensiling a mixture of OG and corn could be a valuable approach for producing livestock feed, as it had a positive effect on fermentation quality and SW detoxification; the optimal ratio was 1:1. In the silages, Lactobacillus plantarum was the most common microorganism present in all mixture silages, and Lactobacillus amylovorus and Lactobacillusbrevis were prevalent at lower ratios of corn to OG. All representative strains were able to remove SW from OG fermentation, and the strains of L. amylovorus and L. plantarum had a higher SW removal rate. These mixtures of silages could make OG useable as a feed source in ruminant production.

Abstract

Oxytropis glabra (OG) is a leguminous forage that is potentially valuable for solving the shortage of feed for livestock production, while, in large quantities, it may be toxic because of its swainsonine (SW) content. In this study, OG was ensiled with whole-plant corn (Zea mays L.) at 10:0, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, and 0:10 ratios on a fresh matter basis, and, after 60 d of ensiling, the chemical composition, fermentation characteristic, SW removal rate, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) populations, and their capabilities for SW removal were analyzed. As the proportion of corn in the silage increased, the pH, as well as the propionic acid, ammonia-N, dry matter, crude protein, and SW contents, decreased linearly, while the lactic acid, neutral detergent fiber, and residual water-soluble carbohydrate contents increased linearly. Lactobacillus plantarum was the most common microorganism present in all mixture silages. Lactobacillus amylovorus and Lactobacillusbrevis were prevalent at lower ratios of corn to OG. Meanwhile, the LAB strains belong to L. amylovorus and L. plantarum had a higher SW removal rate. Our results suggested that ensiling OG with whole-plant corn improves fermentation and decreases SW content, and that 5:5 is the optimal ratio, so this type of mixed silage could make OG useable for ruminant production.

A lower cost method of preparing corn stover for Irpex lacteus treatment by ensiling with lactic acid bacteria

Objective

This study investigated a method of preparing corn stover for Irpex lacteus (I. lacteus) treatment to improve its in vitro rumen degradability under non-sterile conditions.

Methods

Corn stover was inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum), Lactobacillus buchneri (L. buchneri), and an equal mixture of these strains, and ensiled for 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. After each period, a portion of the silage was sampled to assess the silage quality, and another portion of the silage was further treated with I. lacteus at 28°C for 28 d. All the samples were analyzed for fermentation quality, chemical composition, and in vitro gas production (IVGP) as a measure of rumen fermentation capacity.

Results

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was found to improve the silage quality of the corn stover, and the corn stover silage inoculated with L. plantarum produced more lactic acid and higher IVGP than other silage groups. The I. lacteus colonies flourished in the early stage of corn stover silage, especially on the 3-d corn stover silage inoculated with both L. plantarum and L. buchneri. This led to an 18% decrease in the acid detergent lignin content, and a 49.6% increase in IVGP compared with the raw stover.

Conclusion

The combination of ensiling with the mixed LAB inoculation and I. lacteus treatment provided a cost-effective method for the improvement of the IVGP of corn stover from 164.8 mL/g organic matter (OM) to 246.6 mL/g OM.

Effect of phosphorus efficiency on elemental stoichiometry of two shrubs

Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient that can restrict plant growth. However, the influence of P deficiency on elemental homeostasis and application of the growth rate hypothesis in higher plants remain to be assessed. Two shrubs, Zygophyllum xanthoxylum and Nitraria tangutorum, were used as experiment material and subjected to five P addition treatments: 0, 17.5, 35.0, 52.5 and 70.0 mg P·kg^-1 soil. The biomass and relative growth rate of Z. xanthoxylum did not change with altered P supply. There was no significant difference in P concentration among the treatments for Z. xanthoxylum, but N. tangutorum showed an upward trend. The P stoichiometric homeostasis of Z. xanthoxylum was higher than that of N. tangutorum. For Z. xanthoxylum, available P in the rhizosphere improved significantly under extreme P deficiency conditions, and P concentrations in all treatments were lower than in N. tangutorum, showing that Z. xanthoxylum had stronger P absorption and P utilization capacity. No relationships between growth rate and C:N:P ratios were found in Z. xanthoxylum. The strong P efficiency, and high and stable dry matter accumulation, are likely contributors in maintaining stoichiometric homeostasis. In addition, the relatively high biomass accumulation and high P utilization efficiency for Z. xanthoxylum does not support the growth rate hypothesis for this species.

Isolation and characterization of the novel oil-degrading strain Kosakonia cowanii IUMR B67 and expression of the degradation enzyme

Oils in food waste can pollute the environment and negatively affect human health. Biodegradation is a promising method for disposing of waste edible oils. In this study, an oil-degrading bacterium was isolated from kitchen waste for efficient degradation of edible oils. Its growth and oil degradation characteristics were investigated in basic salt medium with edible oils as the sole carbon and energy source; the triacylglycerol lipase gene (EC 3.1.1.3) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. A novel oil-degrading bacterium assigned as IUMR B67 was successfully isolated. Morphological and molecular analyses revealed that strain IUMR B67 belongs to Kosakonia cowanii. After 144 h of incubation, the oil degradation rate at 37°C was 95.80%. Optimal conditions for IUMR B67 were recorded at 37°C and 0.1% NaCl with 0.1% ammonium sulfate supplementation. The lipase gene of strain IUMR B67 was determined to be 912 base pairs, and the lipase activity of the expressed protein was 3.02 U/mL, which was significantly higher than the control (P < 0.05). Overall, Kosakonia cowanii IUMR B67 is a novel edible oil-degrading strain that can hydrolyze oil via its lipase activity, which may be useful in the disposal of oils and oily food waste.

Metagenome analyses reveal the role of Clostridium perfringens in alfalfa silage anaerobic deterioration

The clostridial fermentation caused by the outgrowth of Clostridia was mainly responsible for the silage anaerobic deterioration. Our previous results showed that Clostridium perfringens dominated the clostridial community in poor-fermented alfalfa silage. This study was conducted to further examine the role of C. perfringens in silage anaerobic deterioration through fermentation products and the microbial community analyses. Direct-cut alfalfa was ensiled with C. perfringens contamination (CKC) or with the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum, sucrose and C. perfringens (LSC). Contamination with C. perfringens enhanced the clostridial fermentation in CKC silage, as indicated by high contents of butyric acid, ammonia nitrogen and Clostridia, while LSC silage was well preserved. The genera Bifidobacterium, Garciella and Clostridium dominated the bacterial community in CKC silage, while predominate genus was replaced by Lactobacillus in LSC silage. The clostridial community in CKC silage was dominated by Garciella sp. (26.9 to 58.1%) and C. tyrobutyricum (24.4 to 48.6%), while the relative abundance of C. perfringens was below 5.0%. Therefore, the effect of Clostridia contamination on ensiling fermentation was dependent on the ensilability of the silage material. Garciella sp. and C. tyrobutyricum, rather than C. perfringens, played dominant role in the clostridial fermentation in CKC silage.

Sensitivity of resonance properties of all-dielectric multilayers driven by statistical fluctuations

In photonics and emerging fields of quantum and topological materials, increasing demands are placed upon the state and control of electromagnetic fields. Dielectric multilayer materials may be designed and optimized to possess extremely sharp spectral and angular photonic resonances allowing for the creation of fields orders of magnitude larger than the exciting field. With enhancements of 10⁴ and higher, the extreme nature of these resonances places high constraints on the statistical properties of the physical and optical characteristics of the materials. To what extent the spectral and angular shifts occur as a result of fluctuations in the refractive indices and morphologies of the involved low-loss subdomains have not been considered previously. Here, we present how parameter variations such as those caused by fluctuations in deposition rate, yielding bias, random and compensated errors, may affect the resonance properties of low-loss all-dielectric stacks.

Purification and identification of a novel antifungal protein from Bacillus subtilis XB-1

This study aimed to characterize a powerful antifungal component from bacteria. Bacillus subtilis strain XB-1, which showed maximal inhibition of Monilinia fructicola, was isolated and identified, and an antifungal protein was obtained from it. Ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were used to purify and identify the proteins secreted by B. subtilis XB-1. Analyses revealed that purified fraction V had the strongest antifungal effect, with the largest pathogen inhibition zone diameter of 4.15 cm after 4 days (P < 0.05). This fraction showed a single band with a molecular weight of approximately 43 kDa in SDS-PAGE. Results from SDS-PAGE and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analyses demonstrated that fraction V was likely a member of the chitosanase family. These results suggest that B. subtilis XB-1 and its antifungal protein may be useful in potential biocontrol applications.

Responses of leaf C:N:P stoichiometry to water supply in the desert shrub Zygophyllum xanthoxylum

Based on the elemental composition of major biochemical molecules associated with different biological functions, the 'growth rate hypothesis' proposed that organisms with a higher growth rate would be coupled to lower C:N, especially lower C:P and N:P ratios. However, the applicability of the growth rate hypothesis for plants is unclear, especially for shrubs growing under different water supply. We performed an experiment with eight soil moisture levels (soil water content: 4%, 6%, 8%, 13%, 18%, 23%, 26% and 28%) to evaluate the effects of water availability on leaf C:N:P stoichiometry in the shrub Zygophyllum xanthoxylum. We found that leaves grew slowly and favored accumulation of P over C and N under both high and low water supply. Thus, leaf C:P and N:P ratios were unimodally related to soil water content, in parallel with individual leaf area and mass. As a result, there were significant positive correlations between leaf C:P and N:P with leaf growth (u). Our result that slower-growing leaves had lower C:P and N:P ratios does not support the growth rate hypothesis, which predicted a negative association of N:P ratio with growth rate, but it is consistent with recent theoretical derivations of growth-stoichiometry relations in plants, where N:P ratio is predicted to increase with increasing growth for very low growth rates, suggesting leaf growth limitation by C and N rather than P for drought and water saturation.

Effect of Irpex lacteus, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus cystidiosus pretreatment of corn stover on its improvement of the in vitro rumen fermentation

BACKGROUND

The present work investigated changes in corn stover pretreated with different white rot fungi. Corn stover was inoculated with Irpex lacteus, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus cystidiosus prior to incubation under solid-state fermentation conditions at 28 °C for 42 days. Changes in the chemical composition, in vitro rumen degradability, lignocellulolytic enzyme activity and multi-scale structure of the corn stover were analysed.

RESULTS

Content of all lignocellulose components decreased to a certain extent after fungal pretreatment. The total gas production of sterilized corn stover treated with I. lacteus for 42 days increased from 200 to 289 mL g^-1 organic matter. Moreover, the cellulase activity was highest at the later stage of I. lacteus pretreatment. Multi-scale structural analysis indicated that white rot fungal pretreatment, and in particular that of I. lacteus, increased and enlarged substrate porosity and caused changes in the structure of corn stover.

CONCLUSION

Irpex lacteus pretreatment improved the nutritional value of corn stover as a ruminant feed by degrading both cellulose and acid-insoluble lignin as well as changing the structure of the cell walls. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Exposure to electromagnetic fields aboard high-speed electric multiple unit trains

High-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) trains generate high-frequency electric fields, low-frequency magnetic fields, and high-frequency wideband electromagnetic emissions when running. Potential human health concerns arise because the electromagnetic disturbances are transmitted mainly into the car body from windows, and from there to passengers and train staff. The transmission amount and amplitude distribution characteristics that dominate electromagnetic field emission need to be studied, and the exposure level of electromagnetic field emission to humans should be measured. We conducted a series of tests of the on board electromagnetic field distribution on several high-speed railway lines. While results showed that exposure was within permitted levels, the possibility of long-term health effects should be investigated.

Wettability modified nanoporous ceramic membrane for simultaneous residual heat and condensate recovery

Recovery of both latent heat and condensate from boiler flue gas is significant for improving boiler efficiency and water conservation. The condensation experiments are carried out to investigate the simultaneous heat and mass transfer across the nanoporous ceramic membranes (NPCMs) which are treated to be hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces using the semicontinuous supercritical reactions. The effects of typical parameters including coolant flow rate, vapor/nitrogen gas mixture temperature, water vapor volume fraction and transmembrane pressure on heat and mass transfer performance are studied. The experimental results show that the hydrophilic NPCM exhibits higher performances of condensation heat transfer and condensate recovery. However, the hydrophobic modification results in remarkable degradation of heat and condensate recovery from the mixture. Molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to establish a hydrophilic/hydrophobic nanopore/water liquid system, and the infiltration characteristics of the single hydrophilic/hydrophobic nanopore is revealed.

Effects of microbial enzymes on starch and hemicellulose degradation in total mixed ration silages

Objective

This study investigated the association of enzyme-producing microbes and their enzymes with starch and hemicellulose degradation during fermentation of total mixed ration (TMR) silage.

Methods

The TMRs were prepared with soybean curd residue, alfalfa hay (ATMR) or Leymus chinensis hay (LTMR), corn meal, soybean meal, vitamin-mineral supplements, and salt at a ratio of 25:40:30:4:0.5:0.5 on a dry matter basis. Laboratory-scale bag silos were randomly opened after 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days of ensiling and subjected to analyses of fermentation quality, carbohydrates loss, microbial amylase and hemicellulase activities, succession of dominant amylolytic or hemicellulolytic microbes, and their microbial and enzymatic properties.

Results

Both ATMR and LTMR silages were well preserved, with low pH and high lactic acid concentrations. In addition to the substantial loss of water soluble carbohydrates, loss of starch and hemicellulose was also observed in both TMR silages with prolonged ensiling. The microbial amylase activity remained detectable throughout the ensiling in both TMR silages, whereas the microbial hemicellulase activity progressively decreased until it was inactive at day 14 post-ensiling in both TMR silages. During the early stage of fermentation, the main amylase-producing microbes were Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (B. amyloliquefaciens), B. cereus, B. licheniformis, and B. subtilis in ATMR silage and B. flexus, B. licheniformis, and Paenibacillus xylanexedens (P. xylanexedens) in LTMR silage, whereas Enterococcus faecium was closely associated with starch hydrolysis at the later stage of fermentation in both TMR silages. B. amyloliquefaciens, B. licheniformis, and B. subtilis and B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, and P. xylanexedens were the main source of microbial hemicellulase during the early stage of fermentation in ATMR and LTMR silages, respectively.

Conclusion

The microbial amylase contributes to starch hydrolysis during the ensiling process in both TMR silages, whereas the microbial hemicellulase participates in the hemicellulose degradation only at the early stage of ensiling.

The effect of surface wettability on water vapor condensation in nanoscale

The effect of surface wettability on condensation heat transfer in a nanochannel is studied with the molecular dynamics simulations. Different from the conventional size, the results show that the filmwise mode leads to more efficient heat transfer than the dropwise mode, which is attributed to a lower interfacial thermal resistance between the hydrophilic surface and the condensed water compared with the hydrophobic case. The observed temperature jump at the solid-liquid surface confirms that the hydrophilic properties of the solid surface can suppress the interfacial thermal resistance and improve the condensation heat transfer performance effectively.

Transcriptome comparison between inactivated and activated ovaries of the honey bee Apis mellifera L

Ovarian activity not only influences fertility, but is also involved with the regulation of division of labour between reproductive and behavioural castes of female honey bees. In order to identify candidate genes associated with ovarian activity, we compared the gene expression patterns between inactivated and activated ovaries of queens and workers by means of high-throughput RNA-sequencing technology. A total of 1615 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was detected between ovaries of virgin and mated queens, and more than 5300 DEGs were detected between inactivated and activated worker ovaries. Intersection analysis of DEGs amongst five libraries revealed that a similar set of genes (824) participated in the ovary activation of both queens and workers. A large number of these DEGs were predominantly related to cellular, cell and cell part, binding, biological regulation and metabolic processes. In addition, over 1000 DEGs were linked to more than 230 components of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, including 25 signalling pathways. The reliability of the RNA-sequencing results was confirmed by means of quantitative real-time PCR. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in ovary activation and reproductive division of labour.

Effects of perilla extract on productive performance, serum values and hepatic expression of lipid-related genes in Shaoxing ducks

1. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of perilla extract, a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, on lipid metabolism and expression of lipid-related genes in livers of Shaoxing ducks. 2. Two hundred and forty 28-week-old laying ducks received a commercial diet with perilla extract added at 0 (control) or 200 mg/kg of feed. 3. Ducks fed on a diet with perilla extract had increased laying rates compared with control ducks. 4. Serum concentrations of triglycerides were reduced by perilla extract, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total serum cholesterol increased. 5. The expression of genes involved in hepatic lipogenesis, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1, acetyl CoA carboxylase, stearoyl CoA desaturase, fatty acid synthase, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein very low density lipoprotein, were decreased in the perilla group. 6. The mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor alpha and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase was enhanced following treatment with perilla extract, and a similar tendency was observed in the expression of liver fatty acid-binding protein. 7. The results show that a diet with 200 mg/kg perilla extract regulated fat metabolism of Shaoxing ducks by improving egg laying, altering serum lipid profiles, stimulating lipid catabolic gene expression and inhibiting lipogenic gene expression in the liver.