Controlling pathogenic presence in broilers has become a priority in the poultry industry to prevent economic losses due to disease and infection, as well as the possible contamination of chicken products. The use of antibiotics reduces the incidence of infections; however, their removal from production initiated the search for suitable alternatives. Probiotic ineed supplements have been widely evaluated as alternatives. Probiotic use has improved broiler performance, reduced pathogenic loads, and stimulated the immune system at later life stages. However, there is still a gap in protection during the first weeks after the chick hatches. The in ovo supplementation of probiotics has the potential of promoting early health benefits and protect the chick against pathogens after hatch. In the present study, the in ovo inoculation of different probiotic species was evaluated. It was determined that the inoculation of higher concentrations of E. faecium (107 cfu/50µL) into the egg improves growth performance and intestinal morphology compared to lower doses (105 and 106 cfu/50µL). It was also determined that not all B. subtilis serotypes are safe for in ovo inoculation, even if recognized as safe for use in feed, due to a high reduction in hatchability. However, certain B. subtilis are safe for in ovo inoculation and regulate the gut microflora through modulations in coliforms and aerobic bacteria after hatch. Lastly, the in ovo inoculation of different Lactobacillus strains does not affect hatchability or growth performance. However, different Lactobacillus species stimulated cytokine production even during the first week of hatch. The bursa of Fabricius morphology was modulated through an increase in follicular area, which could possibly induce higher antibody production against incoming pathogenic challenges. These results indicate that the in ovo inoculation of probiotic bacteria can induce earlier benefits to broiler health through early changes in gut microflora, as well as early stimulation in the immune system. The early protection provided through the in ovo inoculation of probiotics combined with the protection obtained through the administration of probiotics in feed could potentially result in overall healthier broilers and therefore improved performance.

The objectives of this study were first, to investigate the effect of stress and ascorbic acid (AA) supplement during stress on intestinal microflora of broilers and layers, and secondly, to determine nitric oxide (NO) production in intestinal tract of broilers during stress, when supplemented with L-arginine, and NO production in cecal bacteria. The intestinal microflora from broilers and layers were analyzed for bacterial populations during stress and when supplemented with ascorbic acid. In both studies, stress response was induced by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) via a mini osmotic pump for 7 days, and intestinal samples were collected before and after stress response was induced. During stress, there were no significant effects on intestinal bacterial populations, but changes in intestinal microflora were found in stressed layers and broilers. When AA was supplemented during stress, both short-term and long-term, the microbial population was changed. Cecal NO production during stress, cecal bacterial NO production, and large intestinal NO production when L-arginine was supplemented in broilers were determined as nitrite using Griess reagents. The stress response was induced as in the previous studies. The cecal pouches were collected at day 7 after ACTH insertion. Nitric oxide production by the ceca of broilers during stress was decreased. The cecal bacterial NO production was determined in vitro. The cecal bacteria that produced NO were identified as Lactobacillus fermentum, and Clostridium butyricum. Supplementing with L-arginine, Nù -nitro-L- arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and sodium nitrate did not affect bacterial NO production on MRS agar incubated anaerobically, but sodium nitrate did affect bacterial NO production on tryptic soy and anaerobic agar incubated aerobically and anaerobically, respectively. L-arginine was supplemented in broiler diet to determine the effect on intestinal NO production and microbial populations. Supplemented with L-arginine affected cecal NO production, but did not affect large intestinal NO production or microbial populations. The positive correlation coefficient between NO contents and bacterial populations was only observed in the large intestine when L-arginine was supplemented in the diet.

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No description available.

Gastrointestinal microflora has been shown to have a bi-directional relationship with the host immune system. A variety of fermentable carbohydrate polymers largely pass through the small intestine, providing fermentable substrates for gut microflora. Dietary fibre supplementation may provide a strategy for manipulating the intestinal bacterial profile, changing the interaction with the mucosal immune system, thereby modulating the host immune system. We used a BBc rat animal model to evaluate the effects of oat bran and wheat bran dietary fibre on the immune system. Previous collaborative efforts have shown that these dietary fibres can change the intestinal microflora, with wheat bran fibre showing a greater ability to influence colonic microbial community diversity. We have shown that dietary wheat bran fibre led to reduced IL-4 levels in the liver and T lymphocyte numbers in the Mesenteric Lymph Node and may be involved in reduced IgA levels in the cecal contents. In addition, IgA in the cecal contents was decreased while MLN B cell numbers increased in response to dietary wheat bran fibre. It was observed that neither wheat bran or oat bran treatments exerted any pro-inflammatory effects, with oat bran actually improving antioxidant status. These results suggest that both oat and wheat bran fibre treatments induce changes in the intestinal microflora, and that the microflora changes due to wheat fibre are associated with immunomodulatory effects on the host. This type of dietary fibre supplementation could ultimately provide a potential strategy for promoting health through microflora-associated effects on the immune system.

It was the purpose of this investigation to attempt to quantitate the microflora of the fields which receive the effluent from the Campbell Soup Plant, Paris, Texas, and to determine whether or not there is a correlation between the numbers and types of organisms present and the efficiency of purification of the system.

Screening of possibilities of deep subsurface microflora to decompose selected organic compounds Abstract The aim of the study is to test the deep microflora bacterial strains for their ability to grow in oily environment, aliphatic hydrocarbons and toluene were taken as examples of aromatic hydrocarbons and where the cultivation of selected strain, were produced for testing its growth and microbial activity of selected strains in conditions simulating soil conditions; assess the usability these strains in practical remediation of contamination by oil. This thesis deals with the evaluation of possible use of selected strains of deep microflora for oil decomposition. It is evident, that some groups of microorganisms living in the Tertiary claystones at depths of 30-450 m below the surface are the biodegradable fossil organic matter type of kerogen. Chemical findings indicate that, this organic matter consists of various lengths of aliphatic chains, and thus the assumption that microorganisms decomposing kerogen might be able to disassemble oil and petroleum products. The findings of our experiment indicate that benzene and toluene, as well as kerogen are highly resistant to organic compounds and evidence of microbial degradation are rare. Utilization of oil as representative aliphatic compounds is better...

A pele dos anfíbios, assim como de outros animais, atua como primeira proteção contra agentes patogênicos. A comunidade microbiológica ali residente é composta de algumas espécies de bactérias, e estas, possuem ação antifúngica contra patógenos conhecidos, inclusive Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), o suposto agente principal de declínios de populações de anfíbios em diversas partes do mundo. Uma vez que as variáveis químicas e físicas de um ecossistema influenciam o crescimento, sobrevivência e atividade metabólica dos microorganismos, a microbiota cutânea que atua como barreira de proteção nos anfíbios contra agente infecciosos, provavelmente é afetada quando determinados parâmetros ecofisiológicos são alterados em ambientes florestais fragmentados, modulando assim a vulnerabilidade das populações de anfíbios aos agentes patogênicos. Nossa pesquisa esteve focada na caracterização das comunidades microbianas residentes da pele dos anfíbios em dois contextos de paisagem: fragmento e área contínua. Os parâmetros utilizados para essas análises foram a densidade microbiana e a riqueza de morfotipos de colônias bacterianas. O potencial inibitório do crescimento de patógenos também foi testado em ensaios do tipo cross-strak. As diferenças de densidade e riqueza microbiana entre as paisagens e a presença de táxons típicos de ambiente, apontam para o ambiente como um componente importante na determinação dos perfis das comunidades microbianas dos anfíbios estudados. Essas mudanças são muito provavelmente conseqüências, mas para o entendimento da extensão e natureza de tais conseqüências são necessários estudos adicionais. / The skin of amphibians, as well as that of other animals, acts as a first protection barrier against pathogens. The microbial community resident in the amphibian skin is composed of some species of bacteria that may have antibacterial or antifungal action against known pathogens, including Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the alleged principal agent Tleading to declines of amphibian populations around the world. Because the chemical and physical variables of the landscape influence the growth, survival and metabolic activity of microorganisms, the function of skin as a protective barrier against infectious agents in amphibians, is likely affected by parameters that are altered in fragmented forest habitats. Thus, it is important to understand how environmental conditions affect the skin microbiota of amphibians, and the possible induced changes on vulnerability of amphibians to pathogens. Our research aimed to characterize the microbial communities living skin of amphibians in two contexts of landscape: fragment and continuous area. The parameters used for this analysis were density and richness of microbial morphotypes of bacterial colonies. The potential inhibition of pathogen growth was also evaluated using a cross-streak test, and some taxa in these communities were identified using international protocols. The observed differences in microbial density and richness across landscapes, and the presence of bacterial taxa typical of given environments, point out to the role of environmental change as an important component determining the profiles of microbial communities living on the skin of amphibians. These changes are very likely consequential, but understanding the scope and nature of consequences require additional study.

Early studies on the bacterial content of milk were made mainly to satisfy the interst of people who wished to determine the various materials that contained bacteris. Soon the value of bacterial counts, as an indication of the general conditions of production, of handling, and of the keeping qualities of milk, became evident and bacterial counts were used to obtain information concerning these problems. Numbers of bacteria in milk have been used also in the studies of the desirable and undesirable changes in milk. In the last few years our citizenry has been made more importance of bacteria in milk. As the number of milk dealers have increased and our population in the cities has become more conjested, more stringent regulation of our milk supplies has been practiced. Of major importance in this regulatory program is the bacterial count of milk. Large dairy manufacturing plants, which have also recognized the importance of high bacterial counts in influencing the quality of their products, have encouraged production of low count milk even to the extent of giving bonuses to such producers and rejecting milk that did not come within their standards.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by impaired socialisation. The current project examines the hypothesis that ASD represents a broad range of distinct disease processes typified by environmental insult(s) during a period crucial for the development of any of the systems responsible for social integration skills, sharing simply the fundamental disruption to social functioning with various, definable systemic pathologies related to the initial insult conferring the heterogeneity of the condition. ASD will therefore have both modifiable environmental factors relating to the aetio-pathogenesis of the condition and likely, remediable disease processes. Following an examination of the relevant literature this project presents the Variable Insult Model of Autism. As part of a wider research strategy, this project goes on to explore potential modifiable environmental factors in patients with ASD.Zinc deficiency was explored as a potential environmental modifiable factor involved in the pathophysiology of autism and co-morbid disease. 72 patients with ASD were compared with 234 non-ASD controls. Mean serum zinc levels in the ASD group vs. the control group were 10.01 umol/l (SD 1.52 umol/l) vs. 11.61 umol/l (SD 2.14 umol/l, with a statistically significant difference - p < 0.0001, CI 1.2 – 2.1). The findings withstood correction for age and sex, and zinc did not correlate with diet or supplement use in the ASD group. Total lymphocyte count increased as zinc increased in the ASD group with zinc levels of 10.5 umol/l or above, suggesting zinc status is poor in patients with autism and this is affecting immune function. Urinary metabolomics, quantitative PCR stool analysis and autonomic function were also explored in ASD, as biomarkers of systemic disease processes presenting potential modifiable factors. The urinary organic acids of 49 patients were analysed versus population norms. 90% of patients with ASD had at least one abnormality. A follow-up study of 122 patients revealed succinic acid and 2-hydroxyhippuric acid were significantly raised in the ASD group versus population means (p = < 0.0001 and < 0.0001 respectively). Quantitative PCR analysis was conducted on 29 patients with autism versus 7 age-matched controls. Firmicutes to Bacteriodetes ratio was significantly elevated in the autism group versus the controls 69:41 (SD 8) vs. 54:46 (SD 8) (p < 0.003). A follow-up study of 143 patients and 12 controls showed consistent abnormalities in the composition of firmicutes and bacteriodetes (p = 0.005) and this withstood correction for age and sex (p = 0.009), suggesting an on-going abnormality in gut flora composition in the ASD-cohort. Autonomic profiles were available in 45 patients with ASD. There was marked variability in vagal tone, however in 11 patients with ASD who had both autonomic profile and qPCR stool analysis there was suggestion of a positive correlation between vagal tone and microflora composition (represented by firmicutes to bacteriodetes ratio) (p < 0.003).In summary, evidence suggests there are modifiable environmental factors associated with the aetiology, pathophysiology and disease evolution in ASD, and this is worthy of further consideration and investigation. From the preliminary results presented here, zinc status is poor in ASD and may be affecting immune function; gut flora abnormalities appear common and may be affecting neurological function in ASD.