Foodborne salmonellosis is a global threat to public health. In the current study, we describe the isolation and characterization of two broad-spectrum, lytic Salmonella phages: SPHG1 and SPHG3 infecting a multidrug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium EG.SmT3. Electron microscopy and whole genome analysis identified SPHG1 as a Myovirus, while SPHG3 as a new member of the genus “Kuttervirus” within the family Ackermannviridae. SPHG1 and SPHG3 had a lysis time of 60 min. with burst sizes of 104 and 138 PFU/cell, respectively. The two phages were robust at variable temperatures and pH ranges that match the corresponding values of most of the food storage and processing conditions. A phage cocktail containing the two phages was stable in the tested food articles for up to 48 h. The application of the phage cocktail at MOIs of 1000 or 100 resulted in a significant reduction in the viable count of S. Typhimurium by 4.2 log10/sample in milk, water, and on chicken breast. Additionally, the phage cocktail showed a prospective ability to eradicate and reduce the biofilm that formed by S. Typhimurium EG.SmT3. A phage cocktail of SPHG1 and SPHG3 is considered as a promising candidate as a biocontrol agent against foodborne salmonellosis due to its broad host ranges, highly lytic activities, and the absence of any virulence or lysogeny-related genes in their genomes.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is known for its multiple benefits including improvement of growth, increasing lean mass, and anti-carcinogenic effects. However, when used in longterm supplementations CLA does not improve semen parameters in boar and bull and reduces fertility in Japanese quails. The content of unsaturated fatty acids in dietary lipids plays a significant role in spermatogenesis owning the high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in plasma membrane of sperms. Whether CLA plays a role in testicular tissue and epididymal fat is still unknown. Therefore, in this study we hypothesize that long-term supplementation of equal proportion of CLA isomer mix (c9,t11-CLA and t10,c12-CLA) in rabbit bucks might alter male reproductive potentials. Twelve V-Line weaned male rabbits were used in 26 weeks trial, rabbits were individually raised and randomly allocated into three dietary groups. Control group (CON) received a basal diet, a group received 0.5% CLA (CLA 0.5%), and a group received 1% CLA (CLA 1%). Rabbits were euthanized at the end of the trial and several parameters were evaluated related to growth, semen quality, and testicular and epididymal tissue histopathology and transcriptome. The long-term supplementation of CLA increased feed intake by 5% and body weight by 2-3%. CLA 1% decreased sperm progressive motility. In testicular tissue L-carnitine and α-tocopherol were decreased by CLA supplementation. In epididymal fat, CLA tended to decrease concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids, the expression of SCD5 gene was upregulated by CLA 1% and CASP3 gene was upregulated by CLA 0.5%. Transcription of PPARG was downregulated by CLA. Feeding 1% CLA also decreased testicular epithelial thickness. Long-term supplementation

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Improving maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes for higher productivity and tolerance to drought stress depends mainly on physiological and molecular markers. Therefore, this study aims at breeding maize for drought tolerance and high potentiality by selection based on molecular markers, photosynthetic parameters; and easy graphic methods that help in selecting elite genotypes across diverse environments. An 8 × 8 half diallel analysis was used at two locations involving drought and normal irrigation treatments to study parental genetic diversity (GD) and combining ability (general combing ability [GCA] and specific combining ability [SCA]) in F1 of maize. Fingerprinting of parents was made using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Fiftyeight alleles were ranged from two to five alleles per locus with an average of 0.63 alleles per locus. The average of polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.63. Cuvette temperature (oc) was lowest by the cross L14 × L36. The cross L8 × L34 expresses the highest value for Quantum sensor (μmol m -2 s -1 ), net CO 2 assimilation rate and chlorophyll content. As for leaf diffusive resistance (LDR) four crosses exhibited significant desirable LDR values. Concerning rate of leaf transpiration (LTR) (μg cm −2 S −1 ) the cross (L5 × L104) gave the lowest value. Most hybrids exhibited desirable values for drought susceptibility index. For grain yield plant -1 , five F 1 crosses, that is, L5 × L34, L8 × L14, L8 × L14, L30 × L104, and L36 × L104 expressed the most desirable SCA effects. These crosses are promising in maize breeding programs. Based on GGE biplot analysis, genotype nos. 8 and 10 exhibited the highest grain yield plant −1 and ranked the first across all environments.

Background The use of zinc oxide in the form of nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) is of great benefit due to its potent effectiveness and higher bioavailability compared to zinc oxide. This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary inclusion of different doses of ZnO-NPs on selected serum biomarkers, lipid peroxidation and tissue gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and cytokines in Japanese quail. Eighty Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) (45 days old) were randomly divided into four groups (20 birds for each) with 4 replicates (5 birds each). Birds in the first group were fed a basal diet alone and served as a control (C). Birds in groups 2–4 were fed the basal diet supplemented with ZnO-NPs at doses of 15 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg for a period of 60 days. At the end of the experiment, all birds were sacrificed to collect blood in a plain vacutainer, whereas liver and brain tissues were stored frozen at -80 °C. The obtained sera were used for the analysis of selected biochemical parameters, whereas tissue homogenates were used for the estimation of zinc, oxidative stress biomarkers and gene expression of selected antioxidant enzymes and cytokines. Results ZnO-NPs (30 and 60 mg/kg) induced a significant decrease in serum triacylglycerol (TAG) compared to the control. ZnO-NPs did not affect the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, albumin, globulin and tissue zinc concentrations but reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to the control. The liver retained a higher zinc concentration than that of brain tissue. In a dose-dependent manner, ZnO-NPs upregulated the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase: SOD1; catalase: CAT; glutathione peroxidase-1: GPX 1) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interferon α: IFN-α; interleukin 6: IL-6) in liver and brain tissues. Conclusion The current study suggests the inclusion of ZnO-NPs, particularly 60 mg/kg, in the diet of Japanese quails to improve antioxidant and immune status.

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Aims: Cyanobacteria are immense sources of several pharmacological active compounds such as flavonoids and carotenoids with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. The potential therapeutic effect of two novel cyanobacterial isolates, Cronbergia siamensis (KY296358.1) and Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides (KU212886.1), against hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )induced oxidative stress damage in the rat model was determined in this study. Methods and Results: In vitro antioxidant activity of the two studied isolates was evaluated by radical scavenging assay and ferric reducing power. The possible prophylactic activity of S. aphanizomenoides (KU212886.1) against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress in the rat model was assessed in vivo. Serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were measured for the liver functions in redox rats. Liver malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione, oxidized glutathione, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were assessed as oxidative stress markers. The effect of S. aphanizomenoides on the transcripts level of superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and catalase (CAT) genes in the rat's liver tissues was measured using qRT-PCR. Oral administration of S. aphanizomenoides extract in low and high doses (100, 200 mg kg À1 b.w) resulted in significant improvement in biochemical parameters of liver functions and oxidative stress markers. Also, the endogenous antioxidant defence enzymes and the expression of their related genes (Mn/SOD, CAT) were upregulated. Immunohistochemistry of Caspase-3, an apoptotic marker, showed potent amelioration in the liver tissues. Conclusions: The novel isolate S. aphanizomenoides proved in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity against redox rat model. Significance and Impact of the Study: This isolate provides a new source of pharmacological compounds with great importance in pharmacological and medical fields.The phenolic compound was measured by Agilent HPLC 1260 Infinity II, system; the system consisted of autosampler, quaternary pumps, UV detector, an interface, reversed-phase column alternative for LiChrospher 100 RP-c18, 250 mm 9 4Á0 mm I.D., 5 lm particle size. The

Indigenous chicken breeds in developing countries have diverse benefits to rural economy as a source of high‐quality animal protein. However, there are few reports on the evaluation of economic traits in Egyptian indigenous breeds. Hence, this study aimed to investigate growth performance, carcass characteristics, body measurements and meat quality traits in two indigenous breeds of chickens (Benha line and Golden Montazah) versus Rhode Island Red as a reference worldwide breed. Besides, a time series expression profile of somatotropic axis genes including GH and IGF‐1 and their plasma level concentrations were investigated. Benha line chickens (BL) revealed the highest improved estimates of growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality traits. In the same manner, it displayed the highest levels of hepatic GH and IGF‐1 and muscle IGF‐1 gene expression compared to Rhode Island Red (RIR) and Golden Montazah (GM) chickens. Accordingly, BL exhibited the highest levels of plasma IGF‐1 and the lowest levels of plasma GH. This result suggests the direct association between growth performance, carcass characteristics and levels of IGF‐1 gene expression in the selected chicken breeds. BL is a superior Egyptian genotype with candidate productive traits and competing characteristics, it could be used widely as a proven ancestor of commercial hybrid breeds.