This report is about the first record of non-avian dinosaur eggs in the Hefei Basin,Anhui Province,China.Based on the combination of elongated egg body,linear ridges on the outer surface and two structure layer,the eg...This report is about the first record of non-avian dinosaur eggs in the Hefei Basin,Anhui Province,China.Based on the combination of elongated egg body,linear ridges on the outer surface and two structure layer,the eggs can be referred to Elongatoolithidae.The gradual boundary between the cone and the column layers as well as the relative thin eggshell(less than 1 mm)indicates its affinity within Elongatoolithus.The eggs are identified as Elongatoolithus oosp.,as they were severely compressed and experienced erosion on both inner and outer surfaces.The discovery of egg fossil in the Hefei Basin offers evidence for stratum comparison in this region and supplements the diversity of egg fossils in Anhui.Meanwhile,this discovery also enriches the paleogeographic distribution of elongatoolithids.展开更多
Background Crossbreeding is widely promoted as an efficient strategy to improve the productivity in agriculture.The molecular mechanism underlying heterosis for egg production is always intriguing in chicken.The trans...Background Crossbreeding is widely promoted as an efficient strategy to improve the productivity in agriculture.The molecular mechanism underlying heterosis for egg production is always intriguing in chicken.The transcriptional dynamic changes play a crucial role in the formation of heterosis,but little is known for the egg production traits.Results In present study,we measured the continuous manifestation of heterosis ranging from 2.67%to 10.24%for egg number in the crossbreds generated by reciprocal crossing White Leghorn and Beijing You chicken.The high-quality transcriptomes of ovary for purebreds(WW and YY)and crossbreds(WY and YW)in 5 laying stages were sequenced and integrated to identify regulatory networks relevant to the heterosis.We found highly conserved transcriptional features among 4 genetic groups.By using weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA),we obtained multiple gene co-expression modules that were significantly correlated with egg number for each group.The common KEGG pathways including apelin signaling pathway,cell cycle,ribosome,spliceosome and oxidative phosphorylation,were screened for the 2 crossbreds.Then,we identified consensus co-expression modules(CMs)that showed divergent expression pattern among crossbred(WY or YW)and purebreds(WW and YY).The hub genes of CMs were again overrepresented in the cell cycle pathway,and the crossbreds exhibited temporally complementary dominance of hub genes in the 5 laying stages.These results suggested that the crossbreds inherited from both parents to maintain the ovary function by cell cycle-related genes,contributing to the persistent heterosis for egg production.Furthermore,the dominant genes including MAD2L1,CHEK2 and E2F1 were demonstrated to function in ovarian follicle development and maturation and could be the candidate genes for egg production heterosis.Conclusion Our study characterized the dynamic profile of genome-wide gene expression in ovary and highlighted the role of dominant expression of cell cycle pathway genes in heterosis.These findings provided new insights for the molecular mechanism of egg production heterosis,which would facilitate the rational choice of suitable parents for producing crossbred chickens with higher egg production.展开更多
This study examined the effect of dietary serine(Ser)on egg white quality,ovomucin content of laying hens fed low-gossypol cottonseed meal(LCSM)-based diet and sought to explore the regulatory mechanism underlying the...This study examined the effect of dietary serine(Ser)on egg white quality,ovomucin content of laying hens fed low-gossypol cottonseed meal(LCSM)-based diet and sought to explore the regulatory mechanism underlying the effects.A total of 288 Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly assigned into 3 treatments and respectively offered soybean meal(SBM)-based diet,LCSM-based diet,and LCSM-based diet supplemented with 0.435%L-Ser.Dietary Ser supplementation reversed the decrease in quality indices of albumen,including the proportion of thick albumen(P<0.05),thick-to-thin ratio(P<0.05),albumen height(P<0.05),Haugh unit(P<0.05),and apparent viscosity that were caused by LCSM intake.Also,dietary Ser supplementation mitigated the LCSM-induced reduction in ovomucin content of the albumen(P<0.05).FT-IR analysis of ovomucin revealed differences in second derivative spectra at 1,200-800 cm^(-1) between birds received SBM-and LCSM-based diets,meanwhile,the α-helix of ovomucin was decreased by LCSM but increased by Ser addition(P<0.05).Furthermore,Ser addition up-regulated the mRNA expression of β-ovomucin in magnum mucosa at 2 and 7.5 h post-oviposition(P<0.05).Ser mitigated the LCSMinduced impairment of magnum epithelium,increased goblet cell counts(P<0.05),and up-regulated the expression of occludin,mucin 2,and the relevant glycosyltransferases for O-glycosylation in magnum mucosa(P<0.05).Conclusively,the alleviating effect of Ser on declining albumen quality due to dietary LCSM,could be explained by the efficacy of Ser in regulating ovomucin synthesis.This regulation occurred at the levels of transcription and posttranscriptional O-glycosylation modification ofβ-ovomucin,while positive effect on magnum morphology and barrier function could also in part account for the ovomucin content.This would provide a promising research direction on the adoption of nutritional interventions for manipulation of egg white quality from perspectives of albumen protein synthesis.展开更多
The Upper Cretaceous of Tantou Basin in western Henan has yielded many vertebrate fossils,which are featured by several non-avian dinosaurs.Meanwhile,studies on their eggs were yet inadequate though many eggshells hav...The Upper Cretaceous of Tantou Basin in western Henan has yielded many vertebrate fossils,which are featured by several non-avian dinosaurs.Meanwhile,studies on their eggs were yet inadequate though many eggshells have been reported.The newly discovered material 41HⅤ0199 was excavated from the Upper Cretaceous Qiupa Formation in 2021.The block preserves eight complete eggs arranged in two partial rings that form a partial clutch,and there are some scattered eggshells preserved closely with the block,showing a concave-up to concave-down ratio of 54.5:45.5,which indicates that the scattered eggshells come from the clutch and the clutch had been partially broken before it was buried.Based on morphological and microstructural characteristics,the eggs and eggshells can be assigned to Macroolithus yaotunensis(Elongatoolithidae),an oospecies known to be related to oviraptorids,which leads Yulong mini to be its probable producer.Besides,some eggshells show microstructural signs indicating egg retention,which marks the second example of egg retention in the oofamily Elongatoolithidae.展开更多
"Look at this!This one grows well and big.And its shape,so round and plump.How.adorable,"exclaimed Pema Chosphel as he carefully unearthed a palm-sized gastrodia from the damp soil.Overjoyed,he called his fa..."Look at this!This one grows well and big.And its shape,so round and plump.How.adorable,"exclaimed Pema Chosphel as he carefully unearthed a palm-sized gastrodia from the damp soil.Overjoyed,he called his father to share his excitement.展开更多
This work focuses on the formulation of a dietary cold sauce,mayonnaise,which combines the therapeutic properties of two basic ingredients:PSO(Pumpkin Seed Oil)and quail egg,both of which are renowned for their high f...This work focuses on the formulation of a dietary cold sauce,mayonnaise,which combines the therapeutic properties of two basic ingredients:PSO(Pumpkin Seed Oil)and quail egg,both of which are renowned for their high functional properties.PSO is essentially made up of unsaturated fatty acids(50%to 65%)including linoleic acid,from the omega 6 family,oleic acid(20%to 50%),a monounsaturated fatty acid(omega 9),cucurbitin,phytosterols,tri-terpenes and vitamin E(3.5 mg%).The nutritional,fatty acid,vitamin and mineral compositions of the mayonnaise compared with the ingredients,the physico-chemical characteristics of the quail egg,the PSO and the tasting of the mayonnaise were determined and gave results in terms of variable contents which are recorded in Tables 2-8.The results obtained were satisfactory.Mayonnaise,a semi-solid emulsion of oil in water with viscoelastic properties due to the network formed by lipoproteins adsorbed around neighbouring drops of oil,was prepared using the ratio of quail egg and PSO 1/4.This study may offer an alternative way of making dietary sauces.展开更多
Under natural conditions, organisms regularly experience seasonal or unpredictable fluctuations in their diet that may shape the quantity and quality of their reproduction. While these dietary shifts are known to infl...Under natural conditions, organisms regularly experience seasonal or unpredictable fluctuations in their diet that may shape the quantity and quality of their reproduction. While these dietary shifts are known to influence overall reproductive output, their specific effects on the proportional composition of egg components remain unexplored. To partially simulate the natural conditions, we conducted two trials using adult Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica) to examine how dietary restriction and unpredictable feeding influence the proportional composition of egg components. In the first trial, quails were assigned to one of four treatments: full-fed (control) or restricted feeding at 20% (DR20), 30% (DR30), and 40% (DR40) below daily intake. In the second trial, quails were assigned to one of three treatments: full feeding (control), constant 40% restriction (DR40), or unpredictable feeding schedule (UNPR). Each trial lasted for 14 days, and birds were housed individually. Severe dietary restrictions (DR30, DR40) reduced albumen and shell mass, shell thickness, and egg volume. However, yolk mass, yolk color, egg shape index, and shell density remained unaffected across all dietary levels. Severe restrictions also increased the yolk ratio while reducing the albumen ratio, suggesting that birds may evolutionarily prioritize yolk deposition to sustain reproductive functions. However, reduced albumen content due to maternal nutritional stress may also limit essential nutrients, and disrupt the embryo's osmoregulation, which ultimately affects offspring quality. Reduced shell contents at the severe restriction levels can affect the egg's ability to provide physical protection, regulate gas exchange and control water loss, thereby influencing embryonic development. In contrast, moderate restriction (DR20) and unpredictable feeding (UNPR) had no effect on any of the egg traits. These findings suggest that quails strategically allocate resources among egg components under dietary constraints, indicating potential trade-offs in reproductive investment. The resilience observed under moderate restriction and unpredictability underscores the species' adaptive capacity in fluctuating environments.展开更多
Growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials have led to increased interest in bio-based composites.This study investigates the development and characterization of su...Growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials have led to increased interest in bio-based composites.This study investigates the development and characterization of sustainable egg packaging waste(EPW)biocomposites derived from recycled wood fibers and fungal mycelium filaments as a natural binder.Three formulations were prepared using EPW as the primary substrate,with and without the addition of hemp shives and sawdust as co-substrates.The composites were evaluated for granulometry,density,mechanical strength,hygroscopic behavior,thermal conductivity,and fire performance using cone calorimetry.Biocomposites,composed exclusively of egg packaging waste,exhibited favorable fire resistance,lower total heat release(THR)and total smoke release(TSR),extended time to ignition(TTI),reduced hygroscopicity,and higher flexural strength.Biocomposites,containing hemp shives,demonstrated improved compressive strength and thermal insulation but showed weaker fire resistance.Biocomposites,incorporating sawdust,showed intermediate properties with the longest flameout time(TTF)and highest heat release values.Overall,the results demonstrate that EPW-based biocomposites can be tailored through substrate composition to achieve desirable combinations of mechanical,thermal,and fire-retardant properties,highlighting their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional syntheticmaterials in building and packaging applications.展开更多
Background Compared to many other vertebrates,chickens have a high reproductive efficiency in terms of egg production.The classic traits for evaluating egg-laying performance include age at first egg,egg number,clutch...Background Compared to many other vertebrates,chickens have a high reproductive efficiency in terms of egg production.The classic traits for evaluating egg-laying performance include age at first egg,egg number,clutch size,laying rate,etc.These egg-laying traits were not specifically designed to characterize egg production efficiency and stability.By considering the stage-specific variations in the egg production curve,this study aims to investigate the genetic mechanisms that directly influence the efficiency of egg production at each stage of the laying cycle.Results Using whole-genome sequencing data,we perform comprehensive genome-wide association study for 39 traits that focus on egg production efficiency and stability in the Gushi chicken.We showed that the haplotype-based approach is more effective for genetic mapping and capturing polygenic architecture.By combining the signals of Singleton Density Score(SDS),which is a population-genetic statistic designed to detect recent selection by leveraging the distribution of singletons,and association analyses,multiple egg-laying traits related to egg production efficiency were found to have experienced polygenic selection.Consistently,functional analysis of associated genes demonstrates that egg production efficiency benefits from multiple physiological functions.Furthermore,our results identified the CNNM2 gene,known for its role in magnesium homeostasis,plays a dual role in egg production variance,promoting variability during the up-stage while reducing it during the sustained-stage to optimize egg production efficiency.Conclusions Collectively,our multiple genome analyses reveal a complex genetic mechanism underlying more efficient and stable egg production,and establish chicken genetics as a model for studying reproductive efficiency across species.展开更多
The brood-parasitic brown-headed cowbird(Molothrus ater)has one of the shortest incubation periods of any bird.Brown-headed cowbird eggs,and those of other avian brood parasites,tend to be more spherical due to their ...The brood-parasitic brown-headed cowbird(Molothrus ater)has one of the shortest incubation periods of any bird.Brown-headed cowbird eggs,and those of other avian brood parasites,tend to be more spherical due to their greater relative width.The traditional explanation for this egg shape is that it,combined with the thicker eggshells,resists host puncture-ejection.However,very few North American hosts of the brownheaded cowbird actually engage in puncture-ejection and therefore wider eggs may instead provide greater contact with a host’s brood patch during incubation,especially in large host nests.We tested whether greater egg width increased mean temperature and reduced temperature variation in brown-headed cowbirds by inserting temperature probes into brown-headed cowbird and house sparrow(Passer domesticus)eggs and placing them into red-winged blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)nests.House sparrow eggs are similar in appearance and in length to cowbird eggs,but are not as wide.We found no signifcant relationship between brown-headed cowbird egg width and mean incubation temperature.However,brown-headed cowbird eggs experienced less temperature variation than house sparrow eggs,and within brown-headed cowbird eggs,more spherical eggs experienced less temperature variation when accounting for differences in width.These results suggest that brownheaded cowbirds may have short incubation periods in part because their eggs exhibit less temperature variation over the course of incubation.The brown-headed cowbird’s egg shape may contribute to its accelerated embryonic development rate relative to host eggs of similar size,which explains its ability to hatch in a variety of host nests.展开更多
Dietary phosphatidylcholine(PC)is an ideal source of bioactive lipids showing efficacy to alleviate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).In this study,the lipidomic profiles of nonalcoholic steatosis in mice and He...Dietary phosphatidylcholine(PC)is an ideal source of bioactive lipids showing efficacy to alleviate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).In this study,the lipidomic profiles of nonalcoholic steatosis in mice and HepG2 cells treated with PC isolated from eggs(EPC)and soybean(SPC)were evaluated.EPC and SPC could significantly ameliorate fatty liver disease by down-regulating triglyceride(TG)and diglyceride(DG)levels.Remarkably,EPC exhibited better performance in regulating the hepatic lipid profile leading to decreased PC and TG,ceramides,phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine levels.A total of 117 and 20 lipid biomarkers in liver and HepG2 cells involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism were screened out,respectively.The regulatory mechanism of EPC may be attributed to a decrease in the expression of ACACA and SREBP-1c.EPC,via suppressing lipogenic gene expression,which was superior to that of SPC in alleviating nonalcoholic steatosis.Overall,EPC and SPC attenuated HFD-induced NAFLD by improving the hepatic lipid profile.The more significant effect observed with EPC may be attributed to its modulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism.展开更多
Swimming crab(Portunus trituberculatus)eggs contain abundant phospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids with specific bioactivities.However,more studies on the functions of other nutrients are needed.Here,a novel s...Swimming crab(Portunus trituberculatus)eggs contain abundant phospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids with specific bioactivities.However,more studies on the functions of other nutrients are needed.Here,a novel sialoglycopeptide from P.trituberculatus eggs,which was termed as Pt-SGP,was isolated with enzymolysis.Pt-SGP was a 6480-Da pure sialoglycopeptide.O-glycan units existed between peptides and sugars.Pt-SGP was composed of 10.69%protein,71.43%hexose,and 11.27%Neu5Gc acid.Analyzed with HPLC,GC-MS,and NMR spectrometry,the carbohydrate chain of Pt-SGP was{(4GlcNAc1-2Man1-3)/(4GlcNAc1-2Man1-6)Man1-6}/{4Glc1-4}Glc1-4Glc1-3GlcNAc1.The MS spectrometry analysis result showed that the peptide chain was Val-Ala-Thr*-Val-Ser*-Leu-Pro-Arg.The results on mice showed Pt-SGP could reduce body weight gain by 18.13%,white adipose weight by 28.57%,serum TC by 22.32,serum TG by 9.46%,serum LDL-C by 27.69%,hepatic TC by 73.21%,and hepatic TG by 25.20%.Furthernore,it could increase serum HDL-C by 75.96%,mitigate adipocyte size and hepatic lipid accumulation in high fat diet-fed mice.Pt-SGP significantly down-regulated C/EBPαsignaling and up-regulated AMPKαsignaling in the epididymal fat tissues.The findings indicate that Pt-SGP exhibits notable anti-obesity properties,and can potentially become a promising dietary supplement for anti-obesity.展开更多
Background Organic selenium(Se)has gained recognition in poultry nutrition as a feed additive to boost production and Se deposition in eggs and tissues,owing to its high bioavailability,efficient tissue accumulation a...Background Organic selenium(Se)has gained recognition in poultry nutrition as a feed additive to boost production and Se deposition in eggs and tissues,owing to its high bioavailability,efficient tissue accumulation and minimal toxicity.Selenium-enriched yeast(SeY)is a well-established source,while selenium-enriched lactobacilli(SeL),a newer alternative,offers the added benefits of probiotics.This study examined the effects of SeY and SeL on egg quality,antioxidant capacity,Se deposition,and gut health in laying hens.After a two-week pre-treatment with a Sedeficient diet(SeD),450 Hy-Line Brown laying hens(30-week-old)were assigned into five dietary groups with six replicates of 15 hens each.The groups included a SeD,SeD supplemented with 1.5 mg Se/kg from SeY(SeY15),or 1.5,3.0,and 6.0 mg Se/kg from SeL(SeL15,SeL30,SeL60).The feeding trial lasted for 12 weeks.Results SeY15 and SeL15 improved the feed-to-egg ratio(P<0.05)in the latter stages.Haugh units were significantly increased(P<0.05)in the SeY15 and SeL30 groups,while darker yolk color(P<0.05)was observed in the SeY15,SeL15,and SeL60 groups.All Se-supplemented diets increased Se content in whole eggs,albumen,and yolk(P<0.05),while SeL groups showed a dose-dependent effect.Antioxidant enzyme activities increased,and MDA content decreased in the serum(P<0.05),with SeY15 showing the highest GSH-Px levels(P<0.05).SeL60 increased serum alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase,and distorted the liver architecture(P<0.05).Se-diets reduced concentrations of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in the ileum and liver(P<0.05).SeL15 improved the ileal villus height-tocrypt depth ratio(P<0.05).SeY15 and/or SeL15 up-regulated TXNRD1 and SEPHS1 mRNA while down-regulating SCLY expression in the liver.SeY15 altered ileal microbiota by increasing both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria,whereas SeL15 predominantly boosted beneficial bacteria.Conclusion SeL integrates the antioxidant properties of organic Se with the probiotic benefits on gut health,resulting in a performance-enhancing effect comparable to that of SeY.However,high SeL level(6.0 mg Se/kg)compromised productivity and metabolic functions while enhancing Se deposition.展开更多
The incidence rate and harmfulness of depression are increasing yearly,and the research on the antidepressant effect of regulating the intestinal microecology balance has attracted widespread attention.The purpose of ...The incidence rate and harmfulness of depression are increasing yearly,and the research on the antidepressant effect of regulating the intestinal microecology balance has attracted widespread attention.The purpose of this research was to study the preventive effects and the regulatory mechanism of edible Lilium-egg yolk compound powder(BHT)on gut-brain crosstalk in depressive rats induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)through the“microbiota-gut-brain”axis.Results showed that infusion of BHT for 21 days ameliorated the morphology of the hippocampus and colon,increased the rate of sucrose preference,reduced the immobility time of forced swimming,increased the expression level of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin(IL)-10 in serum,up-regulated the expression level of plasma neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),downregulated the expression of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),IL-6,and IL-1βand neurotransmitter glutamic acid(Glu)in serum,and decreased the expression levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS),diamine oxidase(DAO)and lactate dehydrogenase(LD)in plasma.The underlying mechanism may be to reduce the activation of microglia(lower levels of CD11 antigen-like family member B(CD11b),ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1(Iba1)protein and gene expression),regulate hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor/brain-derived neurotrophic factor/neuropeptide Y(GR/BDNF/NPY)signaling pathway(higher levels of GR,BDNF,NPY protein and gene expression),enhance intestinal mucosal barrier function(higher levels of ZO-1,occludin protein and gene expression),regulate the composition and structure of intestinal flora(analysis results of linear discriminant analysis effect size(LEf Se)combined with random forest showed that Prevotella and Paraprevotella might be biomarkers of BHT intervention in depression),and it is related to the improvement of glutathione metabolism,and other metabolic pathways.Pearson correlation analysis found that 5-HT is strongly positively correlated with Prevotella,and Glu has a strong negative correlation with Prevotella.In conclusion,BHT can exert its antidepressant effect on CUMS-induced rats through microbiota-gut-brain interaction,can be used as an alternative to food recuperation for human depression.展开更多
Inflammation underlies many chronic diseases,and inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a condition characterized by long-term inflammation of the gut.Egg whites have been shown to contain many beneficial active substances...Inflammation underlies many chronic diseases,and inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a condition characterized by long-term inflammation of the gut.Egg whites have been shown to contain many beneficial active substances.Therefore,we obtained 2 peptides from salted egg white:Val-Val-His-Phe(VF-4)and Asp-Thr-Gln-Ala-Met-Pro-Phe-Arg(DR-8).The sodium dextran sulfate(DSS)-induced mice colitis model was used to evaluate its regulatory effect on colitis in vivo.The results showed that VF-4 and DR-8 improved the clinical symptoms of DSS-induced colitis,attenuated colon tissue damage,inhibited the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)/mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt(PI3K-AKT)signaling pathways,and inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines.16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that VF-4 and DR-8 administration increased the relative abundance of intestinal beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus,Blautia,and down-regulated the relative abundance of inflammation-related bacteria including Acinetobacter,Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group,Klebsiella.Moreover,the degree of correlation between pro-inflammatory cytokines and microbiota was as follows:interleukin-6(IL-6)>tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)>interleukin-1β(IL-1β)>interferon-γ(IFN-γ).In conclusion,this study suggests that salted egg white peptides VF-4 and DR-8 have a significant antiinflammatory effect in vivo.It also provides a strategy for the treatment of IBD and a new way for the highvalue utilization of salted egg white.展开更多
文摘This report is about the first record of non-avian dinosaur eggs in the Hefei Basin,Anhui Province,China.Based on the combination of elongated egg body,linear ridges on the outer surface and two structure layer,the eggs can be referred to Elongatoolithidae.The gradual boundary between the cone and the column layers as well as the relative thin eggshell(less than 1 mm)indicates its affinity within Elongatoolithus.The eggs are identified as Elongatoolithus oosp.,as they were severely compressed and experienced erosion on both inner and outer surfaces.The discovery of egg fossil in the Hefei Basin offers evidence for stratum comparison in this region and supplements the diversity of egg fossils in Anhui.Meanwhile,this discovery also enriches the paleogeographic distribution of elongatoolithids.
基金supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China(32302724 to Jingwei Yuan)the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-40 to Yanyan Sun)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(ASTIP-IAS16 to Jilan Chen)。
文摘Background Crossbreeding is widely promoted as an efficient strategy to improve the productivity in agriculture.The molecular mechanism underlying heterosis for egg production is always intriguing in chicken.The transcriptional dynamic changes play a crucial role in the formation of heterosis,but little is known for the egg production traits.Results In present study,we measured the continuous manifestation of heterosis ranging from 2.67%to 10.24%for egg number in the crossbreds generated by reciprocal crossing White Leghorn and Beijing You chicken.The high-quality transcriptomes of ovary for purebreds(WW and YY)and crossbreds(WY and YW)in 5 laying stages were sequenced and integrated to identify regulatory networks relevant to the heterosis.We found highly conserved transcriptional features among 4 genetic groups.By using weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA),we obtained multiple gene co-expression modules that were significantly correlated with egg number for each group.The common KEGG pathways including apelin signaling pathway,cell cycle,ribosome,spliceosome and oxidative phosphorylation,were screened for the 2 crossbreds.Then,we identified consensus co-expression modules(CMs)that showed divergent expression pattern among crossbred(WY or YW)and purebreds(WW and YY).The hub genes of CMs were again overrepresented in the cell cycle pathway,and the crossbreds exhibited temporally complementary dominance of hub genes in the 5 laying stages.These results suggested that the crossbreds inherited from both parents to maintain the ovary function by cell cycle-related genes,contributing to the persistent heterosis for egg production.Furthermore,the dominant genes including MAD2L1,CHEK2 and E2F1 were demonstrated to function in ovarian follicle development and maturation and could be the candidate genes for egg production heterosis.Conclusion Our study characterized the dynamic profile of genome-wide gene expression in ovary and highlighted the role of dominant expression of cell cycle pathway genes in heterosis.These findings provided new insights for the molecular mechanism of egg production heterosis,which would facilitate the rational choice of suitable parents for producing crossbred chickens with higher egg production.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072774)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2023M733822)+2 种基金the Beijing Innovation Consortium of Agriculture Research System(BAIC04),Chinathe earmarked fund for CARS National System for Layer Production Technology,China(CARS-40)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program(ASTIP)of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences。
文摘This study examined the effect of dietary serine(Ser)on egg white quality,ovomucin content of laying hens fed low-gossypol cottonseed meal(LCSM)-based diet and sought to explore the regulatory mechanism underlying the effects.A total of 288 Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly assigned into 3 treatments and respectively offered soybean meal(SBM)-based diet,LCSM-based diet,and LCSM-based diet supplemented with 0.435%L-Ser.Dietary Ser supplementation reversed the decrease in quality indices of albumen,including the proportion of thick albumen(P<0.05),thick-to-thin ratio(P<0.05),albumen height(P<0.05),Haugh unit(P<0.05),and apparent viscosity that were caused by LCSM intake.Also,dietary Ser supplementation mitigated the LCSM-induced reduction in ovomucin content of the albumen(P<0.05).FT-IR analysis of ovomucin revealed differences in second derivative spectra at 1,200-800 cm^(-1) between birds received SBM-and LCSM-based diets,meanwhile,the α-helix of ovomucin was decreased by LCSM but increased by Ser addition(P<0.05).Furthermore,Ser addition up-regulated the mRNA expression of β-ovomucin in magnum mucosa at 2 and 7.5 h post-oviposition(P<0.05).Ser mitigated the LCSMinduced impairment of magnum epithelium,increased goblet cell counts(P<0.05),and up-regulated the expression of occludin,mucin 2,and the relevant glycosyltransferases for O-glycosylation in magnum mucosa(P<0.05).Conclusively,the alleviating effect of Ser on declining albumen quality due to dietary LCSM,could be explained by the efficacy of Ser in regulating ovomucin synthesis.This regulation occurred at the levels of transcription and posttranscriptional O-glycosylation modification ofβ-ovomucin,while positive effect on magnum morphology and barrier function could also in part account for the ovomucin content.This would provide a promising research direction on the adoption of nutritional interventions for manipulation of egg white quality from perspectives of albumen protein synthesis.
文摘The Upper Cretaceous of Tantou Basin in western Henan has yielded many vertebrate fossils,which are featured by several non-avian dinosaurs.Meanwhile,studies on their eggs were yet inadequate though many eggshells have been reported.The newly discovered material 41HⅤ0199 was excavated from the Upper Cretaceous Qiupa Formation in 2021.The block preserves eight complete eggs arranged in two partial rings that form a partial clutch,and there are some scattered eggshells preserved closely with the block,showing a concave-up to concave-down ratio of 54.5:45.5,which indicates that the scattered eggshells come from the clutch and the clutch had been partially broken before it was buried.Based on morphological and microstructural characteristics,the eggs and eggshells can be assigned to Macroolithus yaotunensis(Elongatoolithidae),an oospecies known to be related to oviraptorids,which leads Yulong mini to be its probable producer.Besides,some eggshells show microstructural signs indicating egg retention,which marks the second example of egg retention in the oofamily Elongatoolithidae.
文摘"Look at this!This one grows well and big.And its shape,so round and plump.How.adorable,"exclaimed Pema Chosphel as he carefully unearthed a palm-sized gastrodia from the damp soil.Overjoyed,he called his father to share his excitement.
文摘This work focuses on the formulation of a dietary cold sauce,mayonnaise,which combines the therapeutic properties of two basic ingredients:PSO(Pumpkin Seed Oil)and quail egg,both of which are renowned for their high functional properties.PSO is essentially made up of unsaturated fatty acids(50%to 65%)including linoleic acid,from the omega 6 family,oleic acid(20%to 50%),a monounsaturated fatty acid(omega 9),cucurbitin,phytosterols,tri-terpenes and vitamin E(3.5 mg%).The nutritional,fatty acid,vitamin and mineral compositions of the mayonnaise compared with the ingredients,the physico-chemical characteristics of the quail egg,the PSO and the tasting of the mayonnaise were determined and gave results in terms of variable contents which are recorded in Tables 2-8.The results obtained were satisfactory.Mayonnaise,a semi-solid emulsion of oil in water with viscoelastic properties due to the network formed by lipoproteins adsorbed around neighbouring drops of oil,was prepared using the ratio of quail egg and PSO 1/4.This study may offer an alternative way of making dietary sauces.
基金funded by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office, Hungary (OTKA K139021 to AZL and LC)A Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship and dissertation scholarship from Tempus Public Foundation
文摘Under natural conditions, organisms regularly experience seasonal or unpredictable fluctuations in their diet that may shape the quantity and quality of their reproduction. While these dietary shifts are known to influence overall reproductive output, their specific effects on the proportional composition of egg components remain unexplored. To partially simulate the natural conditions, we conducted two trials using adult Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica) to examine how dietary restriction and unpredictable feeding influence the proportional composition of egg components. In the first trial, quails were assigned to one of four treatments: full-fed (control) or restricted feeding at 20% (DR20), 30% (DR30), and 40% (DR40) below daily intake. In the second trial, quails were assigned to one of three treatments: full feeding (control), constant 40% restriction (DR40), or unpredictable feeding schedule (UNPR). Each trial lasted for 14 days, and birds were housed individually. Severe dietary restrictions (DR30, DR40) reduced albumen and shell mass, shell thickness, and egg volume. However, yolk mass, yolk color, egg shape index, and shell density remained unaffected across all dietary levels. Severe restrictions also increased the yolk ratio while reducing the albumen ratio, suggesting that birds may evolutionarily prioritize yolk deposition to sustain reproductive functions. However, reduced albumen content due to maternal nutritional stress may also limit essential nutrients, and disrupt the embryo's osmoregulation, which ultimately affects offspring quality. Reduced shell contents at the severe restriction levels can affect the egg's ability to provide physical protection, regulate gas exchange and control water loss, thereby influencing embryonic development. In contrast, moderate restriction (DR20) and unpredictable feeding (UNPR) had no effect on any of the egg traits. These findings suggest that quails strategically allocate resources among egg components under dietary constraints, indicating potential trade-offs in reproductive investment. The resilience observed under moderate restriction and unpredictability underscores the species' adaptive capacity in fluctuating environments.
基金funded by the Latvian Research Council FLPP project No.lzp-2023/1-0633“Innovative mycelium biocomposites(MB)from plant residual biomass with enhanced properties for sustainable solutions”.
文摘Growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials have led to increased interest in bio-based composites.This study investigates the development and characterization of sustainable egg packaging waste(EPW)biocomposites derived from recycled wood fibers and fungal mycelium filaments as a natural binder.Three formulations were prepared using EPW as the primary substrate,with and without the addition of hemp shives and sawdust as co-substrates.The composites were evaluated for granulometry,density,mechanical strength,hygroscopic behavior,thermal conductivity,and fire performance using cone calorimetry.Biocomposites,composed exclusively of egg packaging waste,exhibited favorable fire resistance,lower total heat release(THR)and total smoke release(TSR),extended time to ignition(TTI),reduced hygroscopicity,and higher flexural strength.Biocomposites,containing hemp shives,demonstrated improved compressive strength and thermal insulation but showed weaker fire resistance.Biocomposites,incorporating sawdust,showed intermediate properties with the longest flameout time(TTF)and highest heat release values.Overall,the results demonstrate that EPW-based biocomposites can be tailored through substrate composition to achieve desirable combinations of mechanical,thermal,and fire-retardant properties,highlighting their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional syntheticmaterials in building and packaging applications.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFF1000204 and 2021YFD1200803).
文摘Background Compared to many other vertebrates,chickens have a high reproductive efficiency in terms of egg production.The classic traits for evaluating egg-laying performance include age at first egg,egg number,clutch size,laying rate,etc.These egg-laying traits were not specifically designed to characterize egg production efficiency and stability.By considering the stage-specific variations in the egg production curve,this study aims to investigate the genetic mechanisms that directly influence the efficiency of egg production at each stage of the laying cycle.Results Using whole-genome sequencing data,we perform comprehensive genome-wide association study for 39 traits that focus on egg production efficiency and stability in the Gushi chicken.We showed that the haplotype-based approach is more effective for genetic mapping and capturing polygenic architecture.By combining the signals of Singleton Density Score(SDS),which is a population-genetic statistic designed to detect recent selection by leveraging the distribution of singletons,and association analyses,multiple egg-laying traits related to egg production efficiency were found to have experienced polygenic selection.Consistently,functional analysis of associated genes demonstrates that egg production efficiency benefits from multiple physiological functions.Furthermore,our results identified the CNNM2 gene,known for its role in magnesium homeostasis,plays a dual role in egg production variance,promoting variability during the up-stage while reducing it during the sustained-stage to optimize egg production efficiency.Conclusions Collectively,our multiple genome analyses reveal a complex genetic mechanism underlying more efficient and stable egg production,and establish chicken genetics as a model for studying reproductive efficiency across species.
文摘The brood-parasitic brown-headed cowbird(Molothrus ater)has one of the shortest incubation periods of any bird.Brown-headed cowbird eggs,and those of other avian brood parasites,tend to be more spherical due to their greater relative width.The traditional explanation for this egg shape is that it,combined with the thicker eggshells,resists host puncture-ejection.However,very few North American hosts of the brownheaded cowbird actually engage in puncture-ejection and therefore wider eggs may instead provide greater contact with a host’s brood patch during incubation,especially in large host nests.We tested whether greater egg width increased mean temperature and reduced temperature variation in brown-headed cowbirds by inserting temperature probes into brown-headed cowbird and house sparrow(Passer domesticus)eggs and placing them into red-winged blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)nests.House sparrow eggs are similar in appearance and in length to cowbird eggs,but are not as wide.We found no signifcant relationship between brown-headed cowbird egg width and mean incubation temperature.However,brown-headed cowbird eggs experienced less temperature variation than house sparrow eggs,and within brown-headed cowbird eggs,more spherical eggs experienced less temperature variation when accounting for differences in width.These results suggest that brownheaded cowbirds may have short incubation periods in part because their eggs exhibit less temperature variation over the course of incubation.The brown-headed cowbird’s egg shape may contribute to its accelerated embryonic development rate relative to host eggs of similar size,which explains its ability to hatch in a variety of host nests.
基金supported by the Shanxi Provincial General Program for Basic Research Project(202303021211093)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31960492)+1 种基金Key R&D projects in Shanxi Province(202102140601017)Shanxi Agricultural University High-Level Talent Project(2021XG013)。
文摘Dietary phosphatidylcholine(PC)is an ideal source of bioactive lipids showing efficacy to alleviate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).In this study,the lipidomic profiles of nonalcoholic steatosis in mice and HepG2 cells treated with PC isolated from eggs(EPC)and soybean(SPC)were evaluated.EPC and SPC could significantly ameliorate fatty liver disease by down-regulating triglyceride(TG)and diglyceride(DG)levels.Remarkably,EPC exhibited better performance in regulating the hepatic lipid profile leading to decreased PC and TG,ceramides,phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine levels.A total of 117 and 20 lipid biomarkers in liver and HepG2 cells involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism were screened out,respectively.The regulatory mechanism of EPC may be attributed to a decrease in the expression of ACACA and SREBP-1c.EPC,via suppressing lipogenic gene expression,which was superior to that of SPC in alleviating nonalcoholic steatosis.Overall,EPC and SPC attenuated HFD-induced NAFLD by improving the hepatic lipid profile.The more significant effect observed with EPC may be attributed to its modulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41806182)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2020YFD0900900)+1 种基金the Provincial Universities Basic Scientific Research Foundation in Zhejiang Province of China(No.2021ZJ004)the Science and Technology Project of Zhoushan(No.2020C21020).
文摘Swimming crab(Portunus trituberculatus)eggs contain abundant phospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids with specific bioactivities.However,more studies on the functions of other nutrients are needed.Here,a novel sialoglycopeptide from P.trituberculatus eggs,which was termed as Pt-SGP,was isolated with enzymolysis.Pt-SGP was a 6480-Da pure sialoglycopeptide.O-glycan units existed between peptides and sugars.Pt-SGP was composed of 10.69%protein,71.43%hexose,and 11.27%Neu5Gc acid.Analyzed with HPLC,GC-MS,and NMR spectrometry,the carbohydrate chain of Pt-SGP was{(4GlcNAc1-2Man1-3)/(4GlcNAc1-2Man1-6)Man1-6}/{4Glc1-4}Glc1-4Glc1-3GlcNAc1.The MS spectrometry analysis result showed that the peptide chain was Val-Ala-Thr*-Val-Ser*-Leu-Pro-Arg.The results on mice showed Pt-SGP could reduce body weight gain by 18.13%,white adipose weight by 28.57%,serum TC by 22.32,serum TG by 9.46%,serum LDL-C by 27.69%,hepatic TC by 73.21%,and hepatic TG by 25.20%.Furthernore,it could increase serum HDL-C by 75.96%,mitigate adipocyte size and hepatic lipid accumulation in high fat diet-fed mice.Pt-SGP significantly down-regulated C/EBPαsignaling and up-regulated AMPKαsignaling in the epididymal fat tissues.The findings indicate that Pt-SGP exhibits notable anti-obesity properties,and can potentially become a promising dietary supplement for anti-obesity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32302774)Beijing Innovation Consortium of Agriculture Research System(BAIC04)+1 种基金China Agriculture Research System(CARS-40)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Feed Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAASIFR-ZDRW202402).
文摘Background Organic selenium(Se)has gained recognition in poultry nutrition as a feed additive to boost production and Se deposition in eggs and tissues,owing to its high bioavailability,efficient tissue accumulation and minimal toxicity.Selenium-enriched yeast(SeY)is a well-established source,while selenium-enriched lactobacilli(SeL),a newer alternative,offers the added benefits of probiotics.This study examined the effects of SeY and SeL on egg quality,antioxidant capacity,Se deposition,and gut health in laying hens.After a two-week pre-treatment with a Sedeficient diet(SeD),450 Hy-Line Brown laying hens(30-week-old)were assigned into five dietary groups with six replicates of 15 hens each.The groups included a SeD,SeD supplemented with 1.5 mg Se/kg from SeY(SeY15),or 1.5,3.0,and 6.0 mg Se/kg from SeL(SeL15,SeL30,SeL60).The feeding trial lasted for 12 weeks.Results SeY15 and SeL15 improved the feed-to-egg ratio(P<0.05)in the latter stages.Haugh units were significantly increased(P<0.05)in the SeY15 and SeL30 groups,while darker yolk color(P<0.05)was observed in the SeY15,SeL15,and SeL60 groups.All Se-supplemented diets increased Se content in whole eggs,albumen,and yolk(P<0.05),while SeL groups showed a dose-dependent effect.Antioxidant enzyme activities increased,and MDA content decreased in the serum(P<0.05),with SeY15 showing the highest GSH-Px levels(P<0.05).SeL60 increased serum alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase,and distorted the liver architecture(P<0.05).Se-diets reduced concentrations of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in the ileum and liver(P<0.05).SeL15 improved the ileal villus height-tocrypt depth ratio(P<0.05).SeY15 and/or SeL15 up-regulated TXNRD1 and SEPHS1 mRNA while down-regulating SCLY expression in the liver.SeY15 altered ileal microbiota by increasing both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria,whereas SeL15 predominantly boosted beneficial bacteria.Conclusion SeL integrates the antioxidant properties of organic Se with the probiotic benefits on gut health,resulting in a performance-enhancing effect comparable to that of SeY.However,high SeL level(6.0 mg Se/kg)compromised productivity and metabolic functions while enhancing Se deposition.
基金financial support of the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(2023JJ60481)the Natural Science Foundation of Changsha Municipality(kq2208181)+3 种基金the Hunan Provincial Department of Education’s Outstanding Youth Science Research Project(22B0360)the Hunan Provincial Department of Education’s Science Research Project(22C0191)the National Ministry of Agriculture’s Edible Lily Longshan Comprehensive Experimental Station Project(CARS-21)the Hunan University of Chinese Medicine Graduate Innovation Project(2023CX157)。
文摘The incidence rate and harmfulness of depression are increasing yearly,and the research on the antidepressant effect of regulating the intestinal microecology balance has attracted widespread attention.The purpose of this research was to study the preventive effects and the regulatory mechanism of edible Lilium-egg yolk compound powder(BHT)on gut-brain crosstalk in depressive rats induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)through the“microbiota-gut-brain”axis.Results showed that infusion of BHT for 21 days ameliorated the morphology of the hippocampus and colon,increased the rate of sucrose preference,reduced the immobility time of forced swimming,increased the expression level of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin(IL)-10 in serum,up-regulated the expression level of plasma neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),downregulated the expression of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),IL-6,and IL-1βand neurotransmitter glutamic acid(Glu)in serum,and decreased the expression levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS),diamine oxidase(DAO)and lactate dehydrogenase(LD)in plasma.The underlying mechanism may be to reduce the activation of microglia(lower levels of CD11 antigen-like family member B(CD11b),ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1(Iba1)protein and gene expression),regulate hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor/brain-derived neurotrophic factor/neuropeptide Y(GR/BDNF/NPY)signaling pathway(higher levels of GR,BDNF,NPY protein and gene expression),enhance intestinal mucosal barrier function(higher levels of ZO-1,occludin protein and gene expression),regulate the composition and structure of intestinal flora(analysis results of linear discriminant analysis effect size(LEf Se)combined with random forest showed that Prevotella and Paraprevotella might be biomarkers of BHT intervention in depression),and it is related to the improvement of glutathione metabolism,and other metabolic pathways.Pearson correlation analysis found that 5-HT is strongly positively correlated with Prevotella,and Glu has a strong negative correlation with Prevotella.In conclusion,BHT can exert its antidepressant effect on CUMS-induced rats through microbiota-gut-brain interaction,can be used as an alternative to food recuperation for human depression.
基金the financial support provided by the Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education,China(GJJ200433)。
文摘Inflammation underlies many chronic diseases,and inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a condition characterized by long-term inflammation of the gut.Egg whites have been shown to contain many beneficial active substances.Therefore,we obtained 2 peptides from salted egg white:Val-Val-His-Phe(VF-4)and Asp-Thr-Gln-Ala-Met-Pro-Phe-Arg(DR-8).The sodium dextran sulfate(DSS)-induced mice colitis model was used to evaluate its regulatory effect on colitis in vivo.The results showed that VF-4 and DR-8 improved the clinical symptoms of DSS-induced colitis,attenuated colon tissue damage,inhibited the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)/mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt(PI3K-AKT)signaling pathways,and inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines.16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that VF-4 and DR-8 administration increased the relative abundance of intestinal beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus,Blautia,and down-regulated the relative abundance of inflammation-related bacteria including Acinetobacter,Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group,Klebsiella.Moreover,the degree of correlation between pro-inflammatory cytokines and microbiota was as follows:interleukin-6(IL-6)>tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)>interleukin-1β(IL-1β)>interferon-γ(IFN-γ).In conclusion,this study suggests that salted egg white peptides VF-4 and DR-8 have a significant antiinflammatory effect in vivo.It also provides a strategy for the treatment of IBD and a new way for the highvalue utilization of salted egg white.
