Capsule depolymerase enzymes offer a promising class of new antibiotics. In vivo studies are encouraging but it is unclear how well this type of phage product will generalize in therapeutics, or whether different depolymerases against the same capsule function similarly. Here, in vivo efficacy was tested using cloned bacteriophage depolymerases against Escherichia coli strains with three different capsule types: K1, K5, and K30. When treating infections with the cognate capsule type in a mouse thigh model, the previously studied K1E depolymerase rescued poorly, whereas K1F, K1H, K5, and K30 depolymerases rescued well. K30 gp41 was identified as the catalytically active protein. In contrast to the in vivo studies, K1E enzyme actively degraded K1 capsule polysaccharide in vitro and sensitized K1 bacteria to serum killing. The only in vitro correlate of poor K1E performance in vivo was that the purified enzyme did not form the expected trimer. K1E appeared as an 18-mer which might limit its in vivo distribution. Overall, depolymerases were easily identified, cloned from phage genomes, and as purified proteins they proved generally effective.

Phage-derived depolymerases directed against bacterial capsules are showing therapeutic promise in various animal models of infection. However, individual animal model studies are often constrained by use of highly specific protocols, such that results may not generalize to even slight modifications. Here we explore the robustness of depolymerase therapies shown to succeed in a previous study of mice. Treatment success rates were reduced by treatment delay, more so for some enzymes than others: K1- and K5 capsule-degrading enzymes retained partial efficacy on delay, while K30 depolymerase did not. Phage were superior to enzymes under delayed treatment only for K1. Route of administration (intramuscular versus intraperitoneal) mattered for success of K1E, possibly for K1F, not for K1H depolymerase. Significantly, K1 capsule-degrading enzymes proved highly successful when using immune-suppressed, leukopenic mice, even with delayed treatment. Evolution of bacteria resistant to K1-degrading enzymes did not thwart therapeutic success in leukopenic mice, likely because resistant bacteria were avirulent. In combination with previous studies these results continue to support the efficacy of depolymerases as antibacterial agents in vivo, but system-specific details are becoming evident.

Polyphenols are functional compounds in plants, which possess many bioactivities beneficial for humans. The aim of this study was to establish a highly efficient method for extracting polyphenol compounds from areca seeds and further to identify polyphenols and antioxidant properties of the seeds. A quadratic general rotary unitized design was used to determine the optimal extraction process. The polyphenols were identified using LC-TOF-MS. By comparison with ascorbic acid (Vc), the antioxidant activities of the ethanol extracts were evaluated using three complementary in vitro assays: inhibition of the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity, and reducing ability. The two major polyphenols obtained were epicatechin and syringic acid. The ethanol extracts of areca seeds showed significantly greater antioxidant activity (p < 0.05) than Vc using the DPPH and reducing power assay, but lower ability (p < 0.05) using the hydroxyl radical assay. The results indicate that the areca seed is an excellent food material with potential antioxidant properties.

Stomata are important indexes in studies of plant origin, evolution, and classification and are important organs in plant phylogenetic relationship studies. Nine Aleurites montana provenances were used in this study to examine stomatal density, stomatal area, stomatal perimeter, long axis length, and short axis length. The correlation and cluster analyses were conducted among the morphological parameters of the pores. The results showed that there were significant differences in different A. Montana provenances in terms of stomatal morphology parameters. The average stomatal density, stomatal area, stomatal perimeter, stomatal long axis length, and stomatal short axis length of each provenance was between 224.16–307.10 stomata/mm2, 80.42–99.76 μm, 36.39–41.32 μm, 15.89–18.44 μm, and 6.53–7.46 μm, respectively, and the coefficient of variation was between 9.18%–20.15%, 17.57%–33.77%, 9.31%–18.79%, 9.71%–18.48%, and 10.26%–21.57%, respectively. Correlation analysis shows that there was a significant negative correlation between stomatal density and stomatal shape parameters (stomatal area, stomatal perimeter, stomatal long axis, stomatal short axis) and there was a significant positive correlation between stomatal parameters. There was no significant correlation between geographical environment factors and stomatal characteristics. There is a close relationship between stomatal morphology and stomatal conductance whereby dense small stomata can quickly adapt to changes in the environment; considering the characteristics A. montana stomata in terms of stomatal stability and ability to adapt to the environment, the Jianyang, Zhenghe, Fuding, Shaxian provenances were identified as being more suitable for planting at different sites. This study provides a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement and breeding of high quality A. montana provenances.

Soy hull DF delayed glucose diffusion and absorption of bile acid. Soy hull DF alleviates inflammation in mice through suppressing TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Soy hull DF ameliorates the colitis induced decrease in gut microbiota species richness.