H\(_{2}\)O\(_{2}\) production in Lactobacillus strains isolated from the intestinal microbiome of healthy people

Lactobacillus sp. in the digestive tract are capable of producing H2O2 to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and balance the gut microflora. In this study, we have isolated 115 strains of Lactobacillus spp. from stool samples of healthy people in Ha Noi. Of the 50 tested Lactobacillus strains, 9 strains were capable of producing H2O2, of which the Lac.VFE-14 strain produced highly H2O2 with a concentration of 2.183 mM, followed by Lac.VFE-08 strains (2.081 mM) and Lac.VFE-04 (2.067 mM). All three strains grew well in MRS medium supplemented with bile salts or adjusted to low pH value. With 0.3% of bile salt, the survival rates of these 3 strains were 99%, 95% and 97%, respectively. At pH 3.0, after 3 hours of cultivation, the survival rates of the three strains were 98.54%, 94.15% and 95.27%, respectively. In addition, each of the cell-free culture supernatants of these three strains that inhibit the growth of S. aureus ATCC-23235. The inhibition zone diameters of the three strains were 19.0±1.0 mm, 14.0±1.0 mm and 11.7±1.3 mm, respectively. The results of 16S rRNA gene analyses showed that Lac.VFE-14, Lac.VFE-08 and Lac.VFE-04 had high similarity scores with L. plantarum ZZU 23 (100%), L. rhamnosus JCM 1136 (99%) and L. plantarum S7 (98.65%), respectively. This study indicates that all three strains have the potential to be used as probiotics in the future.

Selection of purification condition for recombinant endoglucanase originated from goat rumen bacteria in Escherichia coli

Cellulase is an important enzyme that plays a role in cleaving β-1,4 glucoside on cellulose to release glucose, which is of economic value and can be applied in many different fields. The 1545 bp endoglucanase gene mined from goat rumen's bacterial metagenomic data was expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta2. In this study, the recombinant endoglucanase was purified by his-tag affinity chromatography with differrent processes, such as using phosphate buffer with or without sodium cloride, pretreatment of samples with ammonium sulphate before supplying into affinity column, using various concentration of imidazole for washing... Finally the endoglucanse was sucessfully purified by his-tag affinity column using sodium chloride-free phosphate buffer of which 150 mM and 400 mM imidazole were used for washing and enzyme elution, respectively. The resulting enzyme showed its high purity of 99%. CMC plate assay confirmed that although less active than commercial cellulase (Sigma), the recombinant cellulase hydrolyzed CMC to form a clear zone (halo) around the well. The purified enzyme is capable of using as material for further analysis.

Expression of gene encoding flavonol synthase isolating from trung du xanh tea (Camellia sinensis var. macrophylla) in E. coli

Common flavonols in plants including quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin are synthesized from dihydroflavonols (dihydroquercetin-DHQ, dihydrokaempferol-DHK and dihydromyricetin-DHM) by flavonol synthase (FLS). In tea, FLS has been shown to metabolize dihydroquercetin to quercetin. The FLS gene was cloned and sequenced from the cultivated tea (Camellia sinensis var. macrophylla) in Thai Nguyen province. In this study, we presented the results of optimizing and designing an expression vector for recombinant FLS (recombinant FLS-rFLS). The FLS gene was ligated completely to the pET32a (+) vector, then expressed in E. coli Rosetta1 and Rosetta2 strain. Using 1mM IPTG to induce the expression of rFLS at 37oC, rFLS was obtained with 52.83 kDa in size and existed predominantly as insoluble form. E. coli Rosetta1 pET32a (+)_FLSproduces rFLS in the soluble fraction than E. coli Rosetta2 pET32a (+)_FLS. Next, E. coli Rosetta1 pET32a (+)_FLSwas optimized for expression at temperatures of 30oC, 23oC and 16oC (24 and 48 hours). After being induced for expression with 1mM IPTG in 48 hours and cultured at 16oC, E. coli Rosetta1 strain containing pET32a (+) FLS produced the largest amount of rFLS in the soluble form.

Gene expressions involved in immune system control and serum CA125 content in polycythemia vera. Tap

Polycythemia Vera (PV) is a slowly progressing blood cancer associated with myeloproliferative neoplasms. The disease is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of three cell types including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets and a symptom of pruritus caused by release of itching agents of activated mast cells. The enhanced expression of several genes involved in immune system control including CTLA-4, PD-1 and LAG3 are linked to activation immune tolerance. Klotho gene has anti-aging, anti-inflammation and anti-cancer functions. The SHP gene group belongs to the tyrosine phosphatase protein signaling family that regulates cancer cell proliferation through maturation, migration and apoptosis and includes two main genes, SHP-1 and SHP-2. The increased serum content of cancer antigen CA125 is considered as a cancer marker of several blood and hematopoietic disorders. In this study, we conducted experiments to determine mRNA expression of above genes in PV patients by realtime-PCR and CA125 concentration by ELISA. Results showed that expression of klotho, LAG3, CTLA-4 and PD-1 genes was decreased in PV patients, indicating that the immune tolerance was inactivated in PV patients. CA125 concentration was significantly increased in PV patients compared to healthy individuals and interestingly, there was a positive association among three patients, who having increased CA125 concentration and biochemical indicators including LDH, AST and ALT. The results in this study provide an important reference document for further studies that serve for the early detection of PV disease.

The status of southern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus siki) in Truong Son key biodiversity area

The Southern white-cheeked crested gibbon, Nomascus siki, is an endemic primate to Vietnam and Laos, and has been identified as a nationally and globally endangered species (EN). However, little information is known on the status of the species in Vietnam generally and in the Truong Son key biodiversity area (Truong Son KBA) particularly. In order to explore the current status of the species in the Truong Son KBA, we conducted field surveys in 2018 and 2019. Analysis of the survey data shows 149 groups of gibbon in the 4 study areas. Combined with results of similar-techniqued survey in 2016 on the same species in Khe Nuoc Trong forest, we identified at least 252 gibbon groups and estimated 425 gibbon groups in the entire Truong Son KBA. These gibbon groups are mainly distributed in medium-rich evergreen closed forests in mountainous areas of the west Truong Son KBA, adjacent to the Vietnam-Laos border.

Partial purification and characterization of a superoxide distimutase (SOD1) from black tiger shrimps Penaeus monodon

Superroxide dismutase (SOD, EC.1.15.1.1) is the enzyme which dismutates superoxide radicals and plays an important role in protection of living cells against oxidative stress. SOD is also involved in immune response in shrimps. In this study, it was found that the total SOD activity of black tiger shrimp muscular tissues is 10 fold higher than that of the haemolymph, however, the specific activity of SOD in the shrimp haemolymph is 9.2 fold higher than that of muscular tissues. By using active gel electrophoresis, 2 different SOD forms were found in black tiger shrimps (one in muscular tissues and two in haemolymph).Using DE-52 cellulose and Q-Sepharose ion exchange column chromatography, one SOD (SOD1) from black tiger shrimp haemolymph was partially purified, and its purity was 31.2 times higher than that of the starting haemolymph. The SOD1 was shown to have mainly one protein band of approximately 24 kDa on SDS-PAGE. SOD1 was most active at 45oC and pH of 5.5. At a concentration of 5 mM, Mn2+ strongly activated SOD1 (up 200% activity), Ca2+ và Zn2+ could increase approximately 20% activity while Cu2+ inhibited more than 60% ativity of the enzyme.

Study of CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism in Vietnamese Kinh ethnic group

Cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP) belongs to the CYP3A cluster, which encode for several enzymes involved in metabolism of various drugs, endogenous substrates as well as exogenous compounds. Among the four genes of CY3A cluster, CYP3A5 plays an important role in pharmacogenetics since this enzyme metabolizes over 30% of the clinically prescribed drugs. The inter-individual variability in clearance of CYP3A substrates mainly depends on the genetic factors. In the present study, after collecting peripheral bloods samples from 100 unrelated healthy Kinh ethnic group in Vietnam, Sanger sequencing was used in order to determine the CYP3A5 variants responsible for enzyme activity alteration (*3, *6, *8 and *9). It was shown that CYP3A5*3 is the most prevalent variant with 67.5%, in which a haft of individuals carrying *3 were homozygous for this allele. In contrast, the variants *6, *8 and *9 were not found the study subjects. The data observed in current study would support dosing of drugs that metabolized by CYP3A5 and thereby increase treatment outcome.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from twigs and leaves of Magnolia macclurei (Dandy) Figlar from Ha Giang Province, Vietnam

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the twigs and leaves of Magnolia macclurei collected in Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang Province, Vietnam was analyzed using GC/MS. A total of 38 compounds were detected in essential oil, accounting for 94.49% of the oil, in which 37 compounds were identified accounting for 93.33%. cis-β-Elemene (14,30%), bicyclogermacrene (18,57%), and 10-epi-ᵧ-eudesmol (16,86%) were the main components of essential oil. The minor components present with rather high amount were: Germacrene D (2,12%), guaiol (8,52%), hinesol (2,34%), valerianol (6,76%), and bulnesol (2,93%). Antibiotic activity of the essential oil sample was tested against a Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli, and a yeast Candida albicans using an agar disk diffusion method. All three microorganisms tested are resistant to the oil from twigs and leaves of M. macclurei. That is exhibited through the inhibitory zone diameters ranging from 4 to 12 mm.

Effects of nano mineral-supplemented diet on pig growth

This paper examined the effects of nano mineral supplementation of diets on the growth of pigs. The total of 180 pigs used for this study were classified into 4 experimental groups and one control group. The results showed that the weight of pigs at the beginning and the end of the experiment was insignificantly different between experimantal and control groups. The same daily gain weight was observed between experimental and control groups. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of four experimental groups I, II, III and IV is 3.00 ± 0.28, 2.95 ± 0.11, 2.85 ± 0.19 and 2.90 ± 0.24, respectively, that were lower than of the control groups, i.e. 3.17 ± 0.42. The mineral content of Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn in liver of pigs in all the experimental groups is lower than that in liver of pigs in the control group. In addition, the amount of Fe and Zn metal in urine and feces of the experimental groups is also lower than in the control group. The results of our study showed that the addition of nano minerals in diets for pigs not only reduced the feed conversion ratio in pigs, also decreased the amount of minerals releasing into the environment.

Assessing status and habitat of siamese fireback (Lophura diardi) by using camera trap in Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park, Vietnam

Siamese fireback, Lophura diardi, belonging to Galliformes is at risk due to habitat loss and hunting, which are main challenges to conservation of the species. In order to provide scientific information to conserve the L. diardi, we implemented a camera-trap survey in Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park from 2017 to 2018. Occupancy and Poisson regression models were used to investigate presence of the species and potential factors influencing the occurrence of the species in the study area. Our results showed that the probability of occurrence of the species at locations within the park was high at 0.84 (0.69–0.92) and detection probability was relative low at 0.19 (0.16–0.23). The best models consistently suggested that the abundance of the species was high in closed canopy forest cover (β = 0.41), but appeared to be notably lower in areas far away from the ranger stations (β = -0.25) and in places with high frequency of human (β = -0.22). This research provided the first quantitative information of status and potential factors influencing occurrence of the L. diardi in the park, which is an essential data for developing practical actions to protect the species and monitoring program in the future for the park.