Search results for "gut"
showing 10 items of 605 documents
Study of the bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ia protein oligomerization promoted by midgut brush border membrane vesicles of lepidopteran and coleopteran …
2020
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces insecticidal proteins that are either secreted during the vegetative growth phase or accumulated in the crystal inclusions (Cry proteins) in the stationary phase. Cry1I proteins share the three domain (3D) structure typical of crystal proteins but are secreted to the media early in the stationary growth phase. In the generally accepted mode of action of 3D Cry proteins (sequential binding model), the formation of an oligomer (tetramer) has been described as a major step, necessary for pore formation and subsequent toxicity. To know if this could be extended to Cry1I proteins, the formation of Cry1Ia oligomers was studied by Western blot, after the incuba…
A bug's life: Delving into the challenges of helminth microbiome studies.
2020
The body of vertebrates is inhabited by trillions of microorganisms, i.e. viruses, archaea, bacteria and unicellular eukaryotes, together referred to as the ‘microbiota’. Similarly, vertebrates also host a plethora of parasitic worms (the ‘macrobiota’), some of which share their environment with the microbiota inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract [1]. Complex interactions between the helminths and the gut microbiota have been associated with establishment of parasite infection, disease manifestations, and host immune-modulation [2, 3]. Remarkably, not only enteric helminths alter the 26 gut microbiome composition [4], but also the infection with blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma has be…
Probiotics as a Dietary Intervention for Reducing the Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
2019
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by an increase in triglyceride fat content of liver cells without excessive consumption of alcohol. It is the most predominant liver disease among different age groups including children and adults. Unhealthy foods such as high fructose and high trans-fatty acids in saturated fat seem to be associated with the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Different clusters of gut microbiota, e.g., Firmicutes, could regulate the energy balance and fat storage. Furthermore, different metabolites of gut microbiota, for example, endogenous short chain fatty acids and ethanol, are associated with increased levels of lipogenesis. Additionally, metabolism of end…
Determination of mercury by cold‐vapour technique in several tissues of treated American red crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)
1988
Abstract Adult intermolt specimens of American red crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) collected from Lake Albufera (Valencia, Spain), were exposed to mercury during 96 h. The Hg‐concentrations used were 50, 100, and 250 μg Hg/1 as Cl2Hg. The content of mercury in muscle, midgut gland, antennal glands and gills was investigated. Determinations of mercury were made by cold‐vapour technique and AAS. The mercury levels in all examinated tissues increased significantly (ANOVA test, p < 0.01) with increasing Hg‐concentration in the water.
Production of methyl mercury in the gut of the Australian termite Mastotermes darwiniensis
2008
Animals are often exposed to or can ingest heavy metals along with their food. Therefore, we tested whether the hindgut microbiota of Mastotermes darwiniensis possesses the capability to form methyl mercury. The termite M. darwiniensis (Isoptera) was fed with saw dust containing different concentrations of inorganic mercury. Methyl mercury was determined by purge-and-trap capillary gas chromatography-atom fluorescence spectrometry (CGC-AFS) using ethyl mercury chloride as the internal standard. Total mercury concentrations were determined in the termite tissue by inductive coupled plasma-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ICP-IDMS) after microwave-assisted digestion. The obtained results s…
Environmental stress affects the expression of a carotenoid-based sexual trait in male zebra finches.
2007
SUMMARY Abiotic factors including thermal stress are suggested to exert constrains on sexual ornaments through trade-offs between sexual displays and physiological functions related to self-maintenance. Given the health properties of carotenoid pigments, carotenoid-based ornaments offer a relevant context in which to investigate the effect of environmental stress, such as ambient temperature, on the production and maintenance of secondary sexual traits and, also, to explore the proximate mechanisms shaping their expression. In this study, we exposed male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) to environmental stress by exposing them to two temperature regimes (6 and 26°C) over a 4 week period.…
The Microbiota Promotes Arterial Thrombosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Deficient Mice
2019
Our results demonstrate a functional role for the commensal microbiota in atherothrombosis. In a ferric chloride injury model of the carotid artery, GF C57BL/6J mice had increased occlusion times compared to colonized controls. Interestingly, in late atherosclerosis, HFD-fed GF Ldlr−/− mice had reduced plaque rupture-induced thrombus growth in the carotid artery and diminished ex vivo thrombus formation under arterial flow conditions.
Effect of Mastiha supplementation on NAFLD: The MAST4HEALTH Randomised, Controlled Trial
2021
On behalf of MAST4HEALTH consortium: et al.
Obesity-associated deficits in inhibitory control are phenocopied to mice through gut microbiota changes in one-carbon and aromatic amino acids metab…
2021
Gut: first published.
Human bile microbiota: A retrospective study focusing on age and gender
2021
Aims: The emerging biliary colonization of microorganisms in patients with biliary diseases may be devastating. Recent evidence suggests that age and gender may influence changes in the microbial composition of gut microbiota. To study the relationship between these parameters on bile microbiota, we retrospectively reviewed positive bile cultures following an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a QA-certified academic surgical unit of a single institution. Methods: 449 positive bile cultures from 172 Italian patients with diseases of the biliopancreatic system hospitalized from 2006 through 2017 were investigated for aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal organisms. The patient…