Characteristics of a β-1,4-D endoglucanase from Trichoderma virens wholly applied in a palm-fruit husk-based diet for poultry layers

Purification, Characterization, and Application of Endoglucanase from Rhizopus oryzae as Antibiofilm Agent

The enzyme endoglucanase is responsible for the depolymerization of cellulose. This study focuses on characterization and purification of endoglucanase from Rhizopus oryzae MTCC 9642 through a simple size exclusion method and its effective application as an antibiofilm agent. Extracellular ß-1,4-endoglucanase, an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of carboxymethyl cellulose, was found to be synthesized by Rhizopus oryzae MTCC 9642. The enzyme was purified up to homogeneity simply by size exclusion process through ultrafiltration and gel chromatography. The molecular weight of purified enzyme protein was estimated to be 39.8 kDa and it showed the highest substrate affinity towards carboxymethyl-cellulose with Km and Vmax values of 0.833 mg ml-1 and of 0.33 mmol glucose min-1 mg-1protein, respectively. The purified enzyme exhibited optimal activity at pH 6 with a broad stability range of pH 3-8. The most preferred temperature was 35 °C and 50% of activity could be retained after the thermal exposure at 40 °C for 25 min. The purified enzyme protein was inactivated by Cu2+, while the activity could be enhanced by the addition of exogenous thiols. Since biofilm is a challenge for health sector, with the aim of eradicating the biofilm, the purified endoglucanase was used to remove biofilm produced by two nosocomial bacteria. As predicted by in silico molecular docking interaction, the purified enzyme could effectively degrade biofilm architecture of bacterial strains S. aureus and P. aeruginosa by 76.52 ± 6.52% and 61.67 ± 8.76%, respectively. The properties of purified enzyme protein, as elucidated by in vitro and in silico characterization, may be favourable for its commercial applications as a potent antibiofilm agent.

Effect of Solid-State Fermented Wheat Bran Supplemented with Agrimony Extract on Growth Performance, Fatty Acid Profile, and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens

Simple Summary

The current work evaluates the application of solid-state fermented wheat bran supplemented with agrimony extract in broiler nutrition. Broiler production parameters, blood and bone variables and meat quality were analysed. The quality of breast and thigh meat was evaluated by the use of physicochemical variables, fatty acid profile, lipid oxidation and sensory variables. The presented results showed that supplementation of the broiler diet with fermented feed positively influenced the quality of the produced breast and thigh meat. The application of fermented feed increased the nutritional value of broiler chicken meat, as shown via the positive modification of the fatty acid profile, without affecting sensory quality.

Abstract

The impact of the broiler diet modification on the following parameters was evaluated: meat quality, carcass traits, and bone and blood parameters. One hundred twenty one-day-old COBB 500 broiler chickens were assigned to three experimental groups (40 birds per group) with four replications (10 per pen) for 35 days of fattening. The control (C) was fed a basic feed mixture. The diet supplemented with 10% of fermented feed (FF10) and additionally supported by 0.2% of agrimony extract (FF10 + AE) was applied to the second and third groups, respectively. FF10 showed both a lower average daily feed intake and total feed consumption when compared to that of C (p < 0.05). Lower concentration of alkaline-phosphatase and calcium and higher total lipids and triglycerides in blood were observed in FF10 + AE. Breast and thigh meat showed a lower content of polyunsaturated fatty acid n-3 and n-6 in the FF10 + AE group (p < 0.01). The increase of gamma-linolenic acid content in breast and thigh meat samples obtained from the experimental groups was significant (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05; respectively). Lower lipid oxidation was observed in the thigh muscle of the FF10 + AE group on the first day of storage (p < 0.01). The current study indicates that FF10 + AE supplementation can be successfully applied to enhance broiler performance and meat quality.