What Function Do Platelets Play in Inflammation and Bacterial and Viral Infections?

The article presents the function of platelets in inflammation as well as in bacterial and viral infections, which are the result of their reaction with the endovascular environment, including cells of damaged vascular endothelium and cells of the immune system. This role of platelets is conditioned by biologically active substances present in their granules and in their specific structures - EV (extracellular vesicles).

Application of aluminosilicates for mitigation of ammonia and volatile organic compound emissions from poultry manure

Odor mitigation techniques are widely investigated due to the problem of odor nuisance generated by intensive livestock production. The goal of this research was to investigate the use of aluminosilicate sorbents as filter packs in the air scrubber ODOR1, which enables cleaning of air inside the livestock building. The following sorbents were examined: raw halloysite, roasted halloysite, activated halloysite, raw bentonite, roasted bentonite and expanded vermiculite. The experiment was conducted in chambers where poultry manure was placed, the time of air treatment was 24 hours. A manual SPME (solid-phase microextraction) holder with DVB/Carboxen/PDMS fiber was used for extraction of odor compounds, and analyses were carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ammonia concentrations were determined according to Polish standards (Nessler method) using a spectrophotometer. It was found that all examined aluminosilicates had the potential for removal of ammonia as well as 24 volatile compounds emitted from poultry manure. The highest efficiency was noted for activated halloysite (81%) and roasted bentonite (84%) in the case of ammonia and odors, respectively. Despite the limitations of the study, the results showed the effectiveness of the air scrubber packed with aluminosilicates for the reduction of volatile odorous compounds in the air of livestock buildings.

Cytotoxicity of Odorous Compounds from Poultry Manure

Long-term exposure and inhalation of odorous compounds from poultry manure can be harmful to farm workers and the surrounding residents as well as animals. The aim of the present study was to determine the cytotoxicity and IC₅₀ values of common odorous compounds such as ammonium, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, butyric acid, phenol, and indole in the chick liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line LMH (Leghorn Male Hepatoma), in vitro, using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and PrestoBlue cytotoxicity assays. The cells were microscopically examined for any morphological changes post treatment. Dimethylamine exhibited the strongest cytotoxic effect on LMH cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.06% and 0.04% after an exposure of 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Both ammonium and trimethylamine had comparable cytotoxicity and their IC₅₀ values were 0.08% and 0.04% after 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Of note, indole had the lowest cytotoxicity as the majority of cells were viable even after 72 h exposure. Thus, the IC₅₀ for indole was not calculated. Results achieved from both MTT and PrestoBlue assays were comparable. Moreover, the morphological changes induced by the tested odours in LMH cells resulted in monolayer destruction, cytoplasm vacuolisation, chromatin condensation, and changes in nucleus and cell shape. Our study showed harmful effects of odorous compounds in chick tissues.

Impact of a microbial-mineral biopreparation on microbial community and deodorization of manures

The aim of this study was to determine the number of bacteria in poultry, cattle and swine manure in order to perform hygienization and deodorization using a microbial-mineral biopreparation. The highest number of bacteria was recorded in laying hens manure (5.1×10(10) cfu/g). It was noted that bacteria: coliforms, E. coli, Clostridium, Enterococcus number was reduced (1-2 log) after the biopreparation application. The investigated odorous compound concentrations were reduced with 34-78% efficiency, depending on the type of manure and odorant. All odorous compounds were efficiently reduced only in the case of laying hen manure.

Influence of lycopene and astaxanthin in feed on metabolic parameters of laying hens, yolk color of eggs and their content of carotenoids and vitamin A when stored under refrigerated conditions

Orientating investigations were carried out in order to test the influence of oil extracts of lycopene (20, 40 and 60 mg/kg feed) and astaxanthin (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg feed) as feed additives on the metabolic parameters (glucose, creatinine, cholesterol) and enzyme activities (alanine aminotransferase, ALT; aspartate transaminase, AST) of laying hens. Eggs from these hens were stored at refrigerator temperatures of 4°C and 12°C for up to 30 days and analyzed for vitamin A, carotenoid and yolk color. 45 laying hens (Hy-Line W36 cross, 23 weeks of age) were divided in three groups of 15 birds each (control, lycopene fed group, astaxanthin fed group). Blood samples were taken from the hens and laid eggs were collected on days 31, 61, and 91 of the study. The eggs were stored for 30 days in refrigerators. Both lycopene and astaxanthin increased the content of glucose in serum (Р⟨0.05). The content of creatinine and cholesterol, and the activity of ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase varied dose-dependently. With the exception of cholesterol, metabolite concentrations in the serum of laying hens fed different lycopene and astaxanthin doses did not exceed clinically accepted physiological levels. The carotenoid content and color of the egg yolks from laying hens fed astaxanthin was significantly higher (Р⟨0.05) compared to lycopene fed birds. Refrigerator storage of the eggs did not affect carotenoid content and egg yolk color compared to freshly laid eggs. Both feed additives showed a favorable effect on the metabolism of laying hens and the enrichment of egg yolks with carotenoids, astaxanthin significantly more (Р⟨0.05) than lycopene.

Expression of metallothionein in the liver and kidneys of the red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) from an industrial metal smelting area of Poland

The metallothionein 1 (MT1) coding sequence of red deer was identified and compared to orthologous sequences from other mammals. Over 90% identity was observed between red deer MT1 amino acid sequence and MT1 sequences of other ruminants. Liver and kidney samples of red deer were collected from the industrial zinc smelting site of Miasteczko Slaskie and from the Masuria Lake District serving as a pollution-free control site. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrometry technique (AAS). The levels of Cd in the liver of red deer from the metal smelting region was about 8 times higher than for the reference control site. Next, the expression of MT1 mRNA in the liver of red deer was quantified by the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and the expression of MT1/2 protein in the liver and kidneys was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Positive correlations were found between expression levels for MT1 mRNA and the concentrations of Cu and Zn in liver of red deer, and with the age of animals. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the nuclear and cytoplasmatic expression in both liver and kidney tissues, but with no obvious relationship shown for the expression of MT1/2 protein and tissue metal levels. Our results showed that the analysis of MT expression levels in the red deer could not be used independently as a biomarker for identifying exposure to Cd, but could be co-analyzed with tissue metal levels to give better prognosis for environmental exposure to metals.

Use of natural and synthetic aluminosilicates in decontamination of feed contaminated by fungi and micotoxins

The contamination of feed with micotoxin has been a serious problem in animal nutrition. Many existing methods of decontamination are not satisfying due to the toxicological safety and health quality of the fodder materials. It stimulates the scientists to search for the new methods. The use of sorbents in the form of natural and synthetic aluminosilicates is a promising direction. The efficacy of aluminosilicates towards aflatoxins has been proved. However, their influence on other micotoxins is not that obvious. According to the last investigations, the use of aluminosilicates in nutrition does not cause any side effects and widespread pathological effects are observed only when dosage is incorrect. Regarding the analyses that were published, it can be supposed that the addition of several different aluminosilicates is a sufficient protection against mycotoxicoses.

Mitochondria, pattern recognition receptors and autophagy under physiological and pathological conditions, including viral infections

Research on the health of mammals invariably shows how dynamic immunology is and how the role of many elements and immune processes of the macroorganism, developed in the process of evolution in protecting against threats, including infections, is changing. Among these elements conditioning the homeostasis of the macroorganism are mitochondria, PRR receptors (pattern recognition receptors) and the phenomenon of autophagy. In the context of physiological and pathological states in the body, mitochondria perform various functions. The primary function of these organelles is to produce energy in the cell, but on the other hand, they are heavily involved in various cellular processes, including ROS production and calcium homeostasis. They are largely involved in the activation of immune mechanisms during infectious and non-infectious conditions through mtDNA and the mitochondrial MAVS protein. Mitochondrial involvement has been also determined in PRR-related mechanisms as mtDNA has the ability to directly stimulate TLRs. On the other hand, mitochondria are also associated with apoptotic cell death and autophagy.